Pike River families spokesperson Sonya Rockhouse has confirmed Winston Peters is holding fast to his promise of making manned re-entry into the mine a coalition deal-breaker when it comes to forming the next government.
Ms Rockhouse, speaking this morning to TVNZ 1's Breakfast programme, said the meeting yesterday between the families and NZ First "reaffirmed what he's been saying all along".
"That will be part of the deal ... manned re-entry into the Pike River drift," Ms Rockhouse said.
Mr Peters met with National and Labour delegates yesterday and says they've agreed on protocol for serious talks.
Labour, as well as the Green Party, have already committed to re-entering the mine, signing a memorandum of understanding with the Pike River families earlier this year.
The National Government, however, has repeatedly stuck to its guns about not re-entering the mine, saying expert advice suggests it is still to dangerous.
Mr Peters had made re-entering the drift a bottom line in any coalition deal.
Ms Rockhouse described it as a "win-win" for the families, who have battled long and hard for the bodies of the miners to be recovered.
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