The families of the workers who died in the Pike River mine disaster are welcoming Allied Concrete's decision to pull out of sealing the mine shaft.
Twenty-nine workers were killed by explosions in the mine on November 19, 2010, and WorkSafe has issued a notice ordering the mine be permanently sealed by November 30 this year.
Allied Concrete decided not to supply the concrete required to seal the mine at the request of victims' families, who are fighting to get a mines rescue team into the drift to find any evidence and bodies.
"It's quite emotional. For me for the first time a company has stood beside us," says the families' spokesperson Bernie Monk, who lost his son to Pike River.
"I'm calling for all contractors to stand behind what they've shown the country needs to be done."
Mr Monk criticises Solid Energy for their lack of communication.
"All we've asked for is dialogue," he says. "They haven't kept proper contact with us, and it was one way - their way, the only way."
"This was a family business and they came to the decision that they didn't want to be involved in providing the concrete at this stage," says Sonya Rockhouse, whose son Ben died in the mine.
"It was the right decision to make," she says. "I wouldn't like to be one of the concrete drivers driving a concrete tuck up there to lay concrete down where bodies lay."
Ms Rockhouse hopes this will "maybe slow them down. They'll have to find someone else to provide the concrete".
Anna Osbourne, who was widowed by the disaster, says the decision is "music to my ears."
"A massive thanks to Allied Concrete for following their hearts and not the dollar," she says.
Allied Concrete CEO Brent Elsmore discussed the decision in an interview with Newshub.
"When we became aware of the issues over the emotions around this for the families involved we decided not to supply," he says,
"Everybody's looking for closure, and it didn't seem like a good place to get involved and stand in the middle of this."
"It's a decision made out of respect for the families," he says. "It was definitely a morally based decision.
"We just hope in time a solution is found that brings closure."
However, this may not be the delay the Pike River families hope for.
"Solid Energy has advised the Minister that it has completed the Type C seal which WorkSafe required to be done by the end of November," says a spokesperson for Environment Minister Nick Smith.
"Solid Energy further advises that ready mix concrete is not essential to complete the seal of the mine as the bulk of the seal is made of Stopcrete. It also advises this decision will not significantly impact on its work programme."
Mr Monk disagrees with this. He says using Stopcrete is part of the preliminary sealing of the mine, but ready mix concrete will be needed to totally seal it.
And without a company willing to provide this, the Pike River saga will continue.
Newshub.
