Nelson seafarers pay respects at Pike disaster anniversary

A del­eg­a­tion of Mari­time Uni­on mem­bers from Nel­son have com­mis­sioned a memori­al shield to take to the sev­enth anniversary of the Pike River Min­ing dis­aster on Novem­ber 19.

Mari­time Uni­on Nel­son pres­id­ent Bill Lewis said the sea­farers would jour­ney to Black­ball to hon­our the memory of the 29 miners who died in the dis­aster.

“We have friends and fraternal con­nec­tions with­in the min­ing com­munity,” Bill said. “Any pro­gress has been made from those at the bot­tom, not at the top. Hope­fully, that is about to change.”

Some of the fam­il­ies of the men who died in the dis­aster wel­comed the new government’s hope of return­ing their loved ones’ bod­ies.

Labour, NZ First and the Greens, the parties that make up the new gov­ern­ment, announced their sup­port for manned re-entry into the mine.

“We offer sym­pathy and sup­port to the fam­il­ies of the miners,” Bill said. “We too, along with many oth­ers, have a sense of out­rage about the cal­lous treat­ment of the affected fam­il­ies … there is now a refresh­ing feel­ing that truth and justice will be achieved.

The shield fea­tures the names of the Pike 29 along with a miner’s lamp fixed at the top. It will be placed on the memori­al wall at Formerly the Black­ball Hilton.

Repub­lished with per­mis­sion from the Nel­son Weekly.