The families of the men killed in the Pike River mine says a significant improvement in the atmosphere inside the mine proves the bodies of the dead can be recovered.
General Manager of the Mines Rescue Service Trevor Sealing said on Friday that work carried out at the Pike River mine in the past week had resulted in a significant improvement in the atmosphere inside the mine.
A spokesperson for the families, Bernie Monk, says pressure from their legal team and unions has made the receivers for Pike River Coal sit up and finally listen.
The work by the Mines Rescue Service involved building a temporary air seal about 170 metres in from the entrance of the main tunnel.
Mr Watts says staff have far better control of oxygen levels within the mine and work will continue during the weekend.
He says morale among his teams is very high. They feel they have achieved a significant amount in the short time they have had inside the mine.
Meanwhile, an international union is calling on the Government to ensure the miners' remains are recovered as a condition of any sale of the mine.
Officials of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Union issued the call while visiting Greymouth on Friday.
A receiver for the Pike River Mine, Malcolm Hollis, says any sale agreement for the mine will include a clause requiring a plan to recover the bodies.
He says there will be a clause in the sale and purchase agreement requiring any buyer to use its best endeavours to recover the bodies, but it will always be subject to safety. If it later proves unsafe, no recovery will take place.
Mr Hollis says bids at the moment are only indicative and negotiations are just starting. It is highly unlikely any new bids will come in, he says.
