'This is a chapter of NZ's history that is not closed' - Pike River Recovery on latest developments

March 13, 2019

The budget is going to be tight, says Dave Gown.

The Pike River Recovery budget is going to be tight, says Pike River Recovery Agency's Dave Gown as he presented to the Parliamentary select committee this morning.

It comes after yesterday's development of a set date for the commencement of re-entry into the Pike River Mine drift.

"This is a chapter of New Zealand's history that is not closed, and that's particularly the case with the families," Mr Gown said. 

"You never move on from losing a loved one, particularly in terms of circumstances that have never been answered and there has been no accountability."

"If there is some closure... the families can look into the mine and talk to their loved ones and say, 'We've done everything we can', that's part of the success." 

The Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little said May 3 of this year is the scheduled date for re-entry, with Mr Gown hopeful the end of the drift would be reached in September. 

The $36 million budget would be tight, he said, however they currently are unable to confirm until the drift is entered how much stabilisation work is required. 

It comes as Bernie Monk resigned from the Family Reference Group after refusing to sign an agreement with police related to 'sensitive' information that may be recovered from the drift. "You can't bind me to a confidentiality agreement," Mr Monk told Stuff yesterday. 

Mr Gown has not be in correspondence with Mr Monk since the resignation. 

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