It’s finally real! – Pike Families – Stand with Pike

Pike River families are stoked with the opening of the Pike River Recovery Agency office.

Sonya Rockhouse, whose son Ben died in the Pike explosion, says the opening of the office is a watershed moment. “To be standing here, in the heart of an operation to recover Pike is simply amazing. When we were first occupying the road just over a year ago we could never have thought that this day would come.

“This is a win for us and for every New Zealander who stand for what’s right.”

Anna Osbourne who lost her husband Milton says the agency represents the start of truth and justice. “This is a real commitment to recovery – right there in the name of the agency – it’s wonderful, I just wish Milt was here to share it.”

Bernie Monk lost his son, Michael, in the disaster. “This is a huge deal, today we stood in the room where the plan will be made, where the nuts and bolt of recovery will be worked out. We’ve had seven years of talk about getting in there and getting our boys out but now it is finally a real thing.”