Photo: NZMEThe National Party is accepting advice that the Pike River re-entry can now be done safely, taking politics off the table on an issue that has been a bitter political battleground. Yesterday, the party's Pike River recovery spokesman, Mark Mitchell, met with the Families Reference Group - which represents more than 80 per cent of Pike River victims' families - and told them National supported the re-entry plan. The Labour-New Zealand First coalition agreement said they would "commit to re-entry to Pike River", while National has always said it was too dangerous to do so. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Pike River Recovery Minister Andrew Little will also be there. "They've been involved, including in decision-making, every step of the way since we set up the Pike River Recovery Agency.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 19, 2019 00:56 UTC