Hon Andrew Little

Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry

Following the standard process of first communicating to the families, Pike River Recovery Minister Andrew Little has confirmed that Cabinet has approved final funding for the completion of the Coalition Government’s commitment to the Pike River recovery.

Andrew Little also confirmed that, as has been the scope since the start of the project, the recovery effort will not be going beyond the end of the drift and into the main mine workings.

“The Coalition government remains committed to the safe and successful recovery and forensic examination of the Pike River drift. It is important to promote accountability for what happened, to inform the ongoing criminal investigation into the tragedy, and to help prevent future tragedies,” Andrew Little said.

“The Pike River Recovery Agency now expects it will most likely be possible to complete recovery work underground by July/August of this year and hand the mine over to the Department of Conservation for ongoing management by the end of the year. Cabinet has approved a further $10.8 million to complete the project as well as a $4.2 million contingency,” Andrew Little said.

The Cabinet paper and DEV Cabinet Committee Minute (both attached) have been published on the Pike River Recovery Agency website at https://www.pikeriverrecovery.govt.nz/documents/

https://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/2003/DEV_Committee_Minute_DEV20MIN0021.pdf

https://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/2003/Cabinet_Paper.pdf

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