Christmas at Pike River Mine

About 40 family members have attended a brief remembrance service at the Pike River mine near Greymouth, a chance for them to be close to their loved ones once more.

The men died after a series of explosions in a West Coast coal mine in November. Their bodies have not been recovered.

Police operation commander Superintendent Dave Cliff said the families travelled in a group from Greymouth, arriving at the mine just after 10am.

They were given time to reflect and were able to place flowers and mementos and also light candles near the bridge leading to mine, at a safe distance from the portal.

Police Chaplain Derek Cone then led a 20-minute service, which was also attended by eight police staff. The families left at around midday.

"The atmosphere was sombre but the weather held," Mr Cliff said.

"We knew Christmas Day was going to be tough and we were pleased to be able to provide this opportunity for the families to grieve and remember their men in their own way."

Grey District mayor Tony Kokshoorn told nzherald.co.nz the gathering was informal but "a significant number of families" would attend.

"We've kept out of it really and left it to them. I've got my own family to be with. I just want them to have their own private time up there without any hassles," he said.

Mr Kokshoorn said relatives of the miners are doing exactly what other New Zealand families are this Christmas.

"It's just what you do with your family on Christmas - you get together. They just want to be close to their families," he said.

Bernie Monk, father of Michael Monk, one of the lost miners, said earlier he was desperate go up to the mine site during Christmas Day.

It will be a chance to "touch" his son again, he said.

"My son's up there. What kind of Christmas are we going to have without one of our own?

"We were so close. We're just heartbroken, absolutely heartbroken.

"We want to touch our son again."

Mr Monk said his family signed up as soon as the offer was mentioned.

He sees it as a way of remembering and including Michael in the family's Christmas.

"That's how important it is. We want to show our respect to Michael."

But the parents of miner Stuart Mudge, Stephen and Carol Rose, said it was too soon for them to visit the mine site.

"We'll go up to pay our tribute in private when there's been more resolution," Mr Rose said.

Efforts to recover the bodies of the men are ongoing, with receivers saying earlier this week that it could be four months before anyone could safely enter the mine.

Meanwhile, the GAG (Gorniczy Agregat Gasniczy) machine, which was brought in from Australia and has been pumping water vapour into the mine to douse the fires, began operating again late yesterday afternoon after it was shut down temporarily due to an electrical fault.

"The Queensland Mine Rescue staff who are operating the GAG unit worked extremely hard to repair it and get it operational again. They've given up Christmas with their families so they could continue to help us and we're very grateful," Mr Cliff said.