Families of the 29 men killed in the Pike River mine in 2010 are to meet with Solid Energy this afternoon to discuss re-entering the mine's main tunnel, Radio New Zealand is reporting.
Worksafe documents released under the Official Information Act show mining company Solid Energy was aware that a re-entry plan was safe and feasible more than a year ago.
This afternoon families will meet with the state coal miner over details of the documents.
"If they can't do it, move over and let the people of our experts to do the job, because we're sick of getting stumbling blocks put in front of us and everyone knows this job can be done," said Bernie Monk, a spokesperson for most of the victims' families. "I just can't understand why they're sitting back and not doing it."
The Mines Rescue Trust chairman Dave Stewart says everything possible has already been done to manage the risks around entering the main tunnel, and that the Trust is working through its own risk assessment.
The Engineering, Printing, and Manufacturing Union says the government needs to make Solid Energy start the recovery of the Pike River men's bodies, or take the job away from the company.
In May, Wireless contributor Di White interviewed journalist Rebecca Macfie about her investigation into the aftermath of the Pike River Mine tragedy.
