Pike River families buoyed by meeting with Little

Thirteen days out from the seventh anniversary of the Pike River Mine disaster, the families of the 29 victims are buoyed after meeting the new minister in Wellington this morning.

The plan is to set up an agency to manage the re-entry within 100 days of the new Government being formed.

The families say a lot of work remains to be done and they now hope for re-entry of the drift leading into the mine before the end of next year.

Passage beyond the drift is blocked by a massive rockfall, with the bodies expected to be trapped behind that.

Anna Osborne, who battled the previous government, was positive after meeting with Labour's Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry, Andrew Little.

The minister now had to set up the new agency, look at budgets, equipment and manpower.

"It will take longer than the middle of next year," Mrs Osborne said.

"As long as it's done right and safely."

After six anniversaries spent "looking into the portal, with the guys behind the doors, no way of going in", things were now very different, she said.

"This year maybe, just maybe, it just might bring some closure to some families."

Mrs Osborne said the "core families" and Mr Little each outlined their expectations this morning.

This time there would be no secrets, she said.

Solid Energy should now drop its robotic entry plans. Robots had already shown the drift condition, she said.

That money could be better spent on a manned re-entry of the drift.

"Let's get in there and do it."

- Laura Mills