Phil Goff
Leader of the Labour Party
22 November 2010 Media Statement
Vigil on the West Coast continues for trapped miners

Labour Leader Phil Goff says his thoughts are with the families caught up in the Pike River Mine disaster as efforts to rescue the trapped miners continue today.

The Labour Leader visited the West Coast yesterday to see the situation first hand, spending time with families.

“I met with a number of the families affected by this terrible accident. I was impressed by their resilience and bravery in the face of the continuing awful uncertainty about what has happened to their loved ones underground.

“There is a sense of hope but also a sense of realism about the scale of risk involved in the rescue attempt. The community is banding together to provide support for the families as Coasters always do.”

Labour MPs Damien O’Connor and Rick Barker will stay on the ground in Greymouth as the situation develops. They are both born and bred Coasters who know some of the families personally.

“They want to provide any support possible for the families affected and the wider West Coast community. Labour fully backs any effort made by the authorities to bring the trapped miners back to the surface as soon as humanly possible.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media