Police and Department of Conservation officials met today with families of  men killed in the Pike River Mine to deliver the shattering news that recovery work at the mine is to be abandoned.

Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families and friends of the dead men, who must now learn to grieve for their lost ones without being able to physically lay them to rest.

According to a report in the Greymouth Star the mine will now be handed back to the receivers. It looks as if the decision to quit has been made on economic grounds. This has been an expensive operation. This day was bound to come.

The Herald also covered the announcement and published an interview with spokesman Bernie Monk, who lost his son Michael:

Bernie Monk…told nzherald.co.nz after the meeting that the families had been told police had gone to the company receivers to ask what they would contribute to the cost of the recovery efforts.

“All they are saying is, to the receivers, what are you going to do to help us? Because they [the receivers] are just sitting back and letting our Government do all the work for them.”

Mr Monk says if the receivers could not contribute towards the recovery efforts, he was hopeful the Government could come up with a fresh plan.

But the families were realistic that it may come to the point of having to seal the mine. “In our hearts, we hope that doesn’t happen but let’s pray to God we can face all options before that actually happens,” said Mr Monk. Read the full report here

It is now up to the government to decide if they’re going to fund this operation any further.

Yesterday it was announced that layers and financial experts had reached a decision on how best to divide up the seven million dollars in the Pike River Miners Relief Fund, which should be sorted out by April. We sincerely hope that their time, and the management of the fund, will be provided pro bono.

So far only half a million is thought to have been released from the fund to the families of the twenty nice just before Christmas. For parents that is likely to be the only money they receive for the loss of their sons – a woeful amount for the life of a much loved child.

$125,000 will be set aside for a much needed memorial to the dead men.

Grey district mayor Tony Kokshoorn said

““The main factor we’ll take into account is longevity and how long we want this trust to last, and that is all about the children.”  Lawyers were working to build deeds around trust funds that would see the children looked after right through their school years — including university.

But what happens if a child wants to follow in their father’s footsteps and become a miner, or doesn’t have the ability to go to university? Do they nothing receive nothing after they finish school?

What is also unsaid is how the families of non-New Zealanders will be taken care of. This shouldn’t just be about looking after Kiwis, families abroad must be considered as equals.