Pike River families campaigning for re-entry to the mine are confident that the new government will make it happen.
A makeshift checkpoint set up on the road to Pike River Mine by some of the families of the 29 men who died. Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry
The remains of 29 miners have been trapped in the mine since it exploded in 2010.
New Zealand First has committed to a re-entry of the mine's drift, as have Labour and the Greens.
Bernie Monk, whose son Michael died in the explosion, said the families were ecstatic that they had the support of all three parties that would form the new government.
Mr Monk said they never had that level support from National.
"We've got a voice now and a manned re-entry is going to happen and [that's] something that should have been done at least six years ago ... so I'm ecstatic."
Bernie Monk said there were a number of reasons why the families wanted the mine's main entry tunnel to be searched, including to look for evidence and the remains of loved ones.
"Getting down that drift is going to give some closure to the families and one of the most important things [is] we're going to get justice and get some accountability of what actually happened down there."
Mr Monk said the three parties had signed a document that committed to giving the Pike River Mine families some attention within their first 100 days of governing.
He said the families had experts working on a re-entry plan, and they were ready to assist the new government with making it happen.
