Sonya and Daniel Rockhouse embrace before entering the Pike River drift. Photo: RNZ / Simon Rogers
Today was the beginning of another very long journey for the families of the 29 men killed in the pike river mining disaster nine years ago.
At 9am this morning the families began to enter right to where the mine is sealed - 170 metres into the drift.
It's the last chance for families to enter before full recovery of the 2.3 km tunnel begins. In the first group to go into the mine's drift were Sonya Rockhouse and Anna Osborne.
Kathryn talks to RNZ reporter Rowan Quinn who is in Greymouth.
