There was more good news for families of the victims of the Pike River Mine disaster yesterday, with a team of experts saying it should be possible for people to go back into the mine early next year.
The new Pike River Recovery Agency has brought together 31 mining experts to come up with a plan to recover the bodies of the 29 men who died there in 2010. They say it should be safe to enter the mine, without breathing apparatus, if they can fill the mine with nitrogen to neutralise potentially explosive methane.
Their conclusion matches a plan outlined 18 months ago by the former chief mines inspector, Tony Forster. He's been advising the Pike families and is on the line now from his home in Wales.
