More boreholes are being drilled at the Pike River Mine site to try to gather more information about the cause of the 2010 explosion. (File photo) Photo: Supplied / Pike River Recovery Agency
Borehole drilling has resumed at Pike River Mine, as part of the investigation to determine what caused the 2010 explosion that killed 29 men.
Police announced in September 2022 they were reopening the borehole drilling operation.
Anna Osborne, a spokesperson for some of the Pike River families, said they had been kept in the loop with progress.
She said work had begun on the boreholes - helped by the good weather - and the police's investigation included putting down more boreholes into the mines to get a better picture of what happened underground on 19 November 2010.
Osborne said the police would then consult with experts about the new evidence, and this would hopefully lead to prosecutions.
"The families are hoping that what we'll get from this is [for] those responsible for killing our men [to have] their day in court, so that we can finally get some justice," she said.
Osborne's husband Milton was one of the 29 men who died in the mine.
She expected the work to take months, but felt positive about the outcome.
"It's been 12 years since the disaster happened, it doesn't matter if we have to wait another few months. As far as I'm concerned, I want a thorough investigation so that my husband didn't die in vain.
"It's not right that your loved ones can be killed in the workplace and there be absolutely no punishment for that at all. We'll just keep going for as long as it takes, until we finally get some sort of justice.
"I believe we will see a prosecution," she said.
Police said equipment for building platforms and drilling rigs were flown in earlier this month after plans to drill 10 more boreholes were approved.
"Families of the 29 miners have been advised and will continue to be updated as work progresses," police said in a statement.
"Two holes are in the process of being drilled."
The first borehole has so far been drilled 100 of 120 metres.
The second is currently at 45 of 75 metres.
Police said drilling was expected to be completed by the end of the week and images would be taken over the weekend.
Detective Superintendent Peter Read said the drilling would help with the ongoing criminal investigation into the first explosion at Pike River Mine.
"Police remain absolutely committed to finding out what led to the first explosion," Read said.
"Drilling further boreholes is an important part of that work."
It is expected all boreholes will have been drilled by the end of May, depending on weather.
The earlier boreholes were drilled from June 2021 until March the following year.