Anger over PM's lack of commitment to Pike River

Further anger and frustration for the Pike River families after the Prime Minister refused to commit to any help to re-enter the West Coast mine.

Spokesman for the families of the 29 men killed in the November 2010 blast, Bernie Monk, met with John Key in Greymouth yesterday.

He was told by Solid Energy chief executive Don Elder on Monday that he'd allow men to enter the main tunnel, if the families arranged it.

Mr Monk says they wanted to know if the Prime Minister was going to stick to his promises about also helping to re-enter the mine's drift.

"The Government sort of always said that they'd fund that and he just showed no interest in it at all and is not interested in funding it, so he's really not gone only back on his word but he just showed no courtesy towards us at all and just dismissed the whole situation.

"I just couldn't believe the way he treated us. It was embarrassing and he was just completely disinterested. Completely just disowned us really."

Mr Monk says the families will now go back to Solid Energy to see if the company will allow them to proceed with their efforts to work out a recovery plan.

They'll then have another crack at the Government, saying it can be done.

He says the Prime Minister's going back on previous promises that the money was never going to be an issue for the Government.

However, the Government insists the message to the Pike River families hasn't changed.

Government minister Steven Joyce is defending Mr Key, telling Newstalk ZB it's still too dangerous to undertake a rescue operation.

"I'm sorry for Bernie. I don't know Bernie very well. It's obviously still very difficult for all the families and that isn't going to change. The message I think yesterday was the same message as other times and he just wants to hear a different message."

Grey District's Mayor says while it's entirely possible to get a team down the initial shaft of Pike River Mine - there's still no change in the fact that it will be virtually impossible to get into the mine proper.

Tony Kokshoorn says there is 400 meters of the main shaft which hasn't been explored yet - but it's unlikely any of the men's body's are in that section.

"Provided it is the right people, there shouldn't be any real danger in going up that shaft to investigate to see if there are any bodies. Outside of that, it will be pretty hard to get into any other parts of the mine."

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