West Coast community preparing to mark ten years since Pike River tragedy

Tony Kokshoorn, former mayor when using the Grey District. Photo / Tracy Neal

By RNZ

The W. Coast community is preparing to seal 10 years since the Pike River quarry tragedy.

On the November 19 2010, 29 boys were killed in a West Seaside coal mine in a methane déflagration – their bodies have never been recovered.

Tony Kokshoorn was mayor of the Grey Soil for 15 years, he thought it had been a tough journey.

“In some ways, it appears to be a long time and in other ways it seems like it happened yesterday.

“It’s been a hard run for a families.

“The one thing I can say, solidarity get from the four families [that] did stick together… the country got in behind the To the west Coast and helped us indicates that tragedy. ”

Kokshoorn said there were compared to events planned to mark the time, some staying local while others are already heading to Wellington.

He was invited to attend lunch situation at the Beehive but had amazingly, instead opted to stay in the area.

“I’d rather be out at Blackball close to where the miners are.

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“I think most of the families are going several but some of the families are going to Wellington and that’s great because I think there are plenty of work to be done on safe practices and that type of thing.

“For many of the families becoming close to where the men lie presently is very important, ” Kokshoorn said.

Over the decade which has passed, he said he along with families had remained in contact.

“We always stay in touch with each other.

“It’s been heartening over the years that all their families have stayed.

“At times, there’s been tension although overall, the families were a fabulous tight-knit group and they are working on this together. ”

A recovery mission is ongoing and is continuing to make progress which has workers now 1980 metres by using.

knowledge RNZ