Note: This story was first published on Thursday April 19
There were emotional scenes at the Pike River Mine on the West Coast as Pike River Re-Entry Minister Andrew Little and family members of those who died in the 2010 disaster entered the portal for the first time since the deadly explosion.
Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse, who lost their husband and son respectively, were in tears as they went into the mine.
The Pike River Re-Entry Minister spoke to relatives before they together entered the portal of the mine for the first time.
They were allowed about 30 metres in. After that it is sealed in concrete.
They said it felt like a big step forward and being so close to where there men died was extremely emotional.
The families were accompanied by Minister Andrew Little, who said this was just the "first step" in getting the miners home.
Touching the walls inside the mine, Ms Osborne and Ms Rockhouse said it felt like the walls were moving. Both were crying as they hugged Mr Little after the visit.
Mr Little said he wanted to see inside the mine for himself and felt completely safe going inside. He denied it was a political stunt.
"This is about knowing that you as the families can be sure that everything that can be done has been done to recover the remains of your loved ones, and if not to do that, at least get a better understanding of what might have happened," Mr Little said as he addressed relatives today.
"We know too there are some families who are not so keen on this project going ahead, they want their loved ones to lie where they have fallen and I get that.
"We don't want to trample on anybody's mana, any family's honour. We want to do this the right way."
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