There was a feeling of renewed hope among many of the Pike River Mine families on Monday, eight years to the day since the devastating explosion.
Many who lost loved ones gathered on the West Coast, only days after the Government revealed plans to re-enter the mine. But an official apology might take a little longer.
After years of heartbreak, there were handshakes and hugs for Pike River Minister Andrew Little today.
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"It's amazing to be at this point," says Anna Osborne, who lost her husband Milton in the mine.
"It has been a long hard battle, but crikey! It's something to smile about."
Eight years on from the tragedy, families gathered at the memorial on Monday as they do each year. But they hope this is the last time they do so without having answers to what happened that day.
"Just knowing this will be the last anniversary we have not going in," says Sonya Rockhouse, whose son Ben also died.
The prospect of re-entry is now likely, and the same can also be said for an apology.
But National leader Simon Bridges says that's unnecessary. He told The AM Show the previous Government honoured the men with sweeping changes to health and safety law.
"That was have a Royal Commission, get an independent taskforce going on health and safety - the biggest health and safety changes across the board in history."
But the families want that apology, and feelings of resentment are clear.
"Absolutely they should apologise, whether we would accept it though is another matter," says Ms Rockhouse.
Bernie Monk, whose son Michael died in the disaster, takes issue with Mr Bridges' assessment of the situation.
"There's a lot of people in the National Party that are going to have egg on their face once we get back in that mine."
The Government says an apology should happen - and not just from the Government at the time of the blast. But any 'sorry' is likely to come after re-entry.
"We need to find the right thing to do," says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
"The reality is this was a tragedy that was totally preventable - and even since then, the families have been frankly put through the ringer," says Minister Little.
Talk of an apology aside, the focus now for the Pike River families is on re-entry.
Newshub.
