Friends and families of those who died in the Pike River mine disaster say they are supportive of the decision to delay re-entry.
A team had planned to re-enter the mine in which 29 men lost their lives in an explosion in 2010.
However, the unexpected and unexplained discovery of elevated oxygen levels prompted the minister responsible, Andrew Little, to announce it was being suspended today.
Anna Osborne, who lost her husband Milton in the explosion, said the postponement of the mine re-entry was not the outcome she wanted but she "totally understands" why the decision was made.
"It's really important that we get this right but we do it with health and safety at the forefront of our minds," Ms Osborne said.
Ms Osborne said she would be going up to the mine tomorrow for the planned ceremony organised by the Pike River Recovery Agency, which is still going ahead.
"The agency deserve the families to go up there still and say 'good job, we appreciate what you have done, and what you will be doing once this issue has been sorted'."
She said the agency had put in work around the clock to get to this stage, and the delay was just a small hiccup.
Rowdy Durbridge, who worked at the mine before the explosion, agreed.
He has spent the past eight-and-a-half years trying to get the remains of his co-workers and his son, Dan Herk, out.
"We're dealing with mother nature," he said. "The mine is like a breathing organism with its own idiosyncrasies."
"These guys have only been working the mine for a short time and like most things that live and breathe, if you don't know them, they're unpredictable."
Bernie Monk, whose son Michael died in the explosion, said he supported the decision alongside the others.
"It's not a showstopper, this is an everyday event in mining," he said. "This can be easily worked through and will be."
"It hasn't quite happened and everyone's a bit deflated."
"I'm not and I know that this will eventually get done," Mr Monk said.
