"Heard it coming big time."
The holiday road toll rose to 10.
There are plans to establish another mine at Mananui, south of Hokitika.
Police say the search team is standing down after it didn't find any new information.
It comes after a person was rescued in a critical condition from a pit at Taylorville Resource Park, near Greymouth, after being overcome by fumes.
The tunnel may be old, but it's the younger generation who are deciding how it will look for the next 100 years.
The Snowy River Mine on the West Coast is near a historic mine that was also known for its riches.
"We certainly wouldn't want to see people turning customers away because of this issue."
It sparked nationwide checks and upgrades of almost 150 swingbridges in 2020.