The sixth anniversary of the Pike River mine disaster is being marked today as controversy about sealing the mine continues.
The 29 workers killed in the explosion at the mine near Greymouth on November 19, 2010 are being remembered at events on Saturday.
Labour leader Andrew Little will be a meeting with families at the mine site this morning and is also attending a memorial service.
The families of the dead men remain angry that mining company Solid Energy is permanently sealing the mine.
State-owned Solid Energy, which took over the mine from the private operator, has suspended work on the seal for a week due to sensitivities at the time of the anniversary.
Environment Minister Nick Smith this week expressed doubt at claims the mine can be safely re-entered.
He says the mine is full of methane and is likely to have residual heat sources capable of triggering an explosion if there was a source of oxygen, and that there is also the added risk of rockfalls.
Newshub.
