Pike River: A nation grieves in unison

Flag fly at half mast on the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Photo / NZPA

As the bells of Wellington's cathedral rang out today, the names of the 29 West Coast lost miners were read out inside.

The Wellington Cathedral of St Paul is holding services every hour for those seeking comfort and answers after the Pike River tragedy.

People were slowly trickling in throughout the morning, Dean of Wellington Frank Nelson said.

"It's important to have a place where you can go and the candles, I always think, are important because they give you something physical to do and can mean whatever you want them to mean," Mr Nelson told NZPA.

People also needed a place to rage and vent their strong emotions, he said.

Students, tourists and business people on their lunch breaks were among those who attended the noon service.

The disaster has brought people together in almost unprecedented manner.

Hundreds have written in to the Herald to express their sorrow from all around the country - including several classes of schoolchildren - and around the globe.

Flags were flown at half mast at businesses, schools and at Parliament.

Inside a hushed debating chamber, normal business was suspended as MPs paid tribute.

On an ordinary sitting Thursday afternoon MPs throw insults across the House and yell to be heard over each other. But today was no ordinary day.

The grief was obvious in what was not happening - no one was reading a newspaper, no one was texting, there was no cross-party heckling.

A representative from each party made a short speech offering the families of the miners their sympathy and describing the grief shared by the whole country.

Even school children in the public gallery sat still and silent.

'Ordinary people, extraordinary circumstances'

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English introduced the only motion of the day: That this House mark the tragic loss of life that has occurred at the Pike River mine, express its deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the men who died, thank the rescue teams and support terms who were so willingly prepared to help, and acknowledge the profound impact on the communities this disaster has affected.

"Today is a day for mourning and remembering," Mr English said.

"On behalf of the people of New Zealand, this House extends its sympathies and support to the parents, wives, girlfriends, siblings and mates."

Mr English said it was important, in particular, that the children who had lost their fathers would remember them with pride, and know that their loss was felt by a nation.

"They died shockingly, going to work, they were ordinary people who died in extraordinary and perhaps horrible circumstances," he said.

"The scale and the horror of this tragedy has dragged us all to the entrance of the Pike River mine and today we stand there, together with the families of the West Coast community, contemplating what might have happened in the darkness.

"The darkness took their lives, but it cannot take the love these men had for their families and their mates, and nor can it take our respect for them."

Labour's deputy leader, Annette King, said the people of the West Coast woke this morning to the reality of their loss.

"We feel sad at their loss and shake our heads at the enormity of the tragedies, but nothing hurts like the death of your own."

Ms King said eventually the stories of the tragedy would become part of West Coast legend.

"Few other jobs build a sense of brotherhood and loyalty like miners have, and the West Coast reputation of stoic, strong fighters arises out of that mining tradition," she said.

Green Party MP Kevin Hague said he lived closer to the mine than any other member, and spoke of previous West Coast mining disasters. He said the families of those victims would feel afresh their own pain.

"And they will also know best of all the anguish and grief now being experienced by the families and friends of the 29 killed."

Mr Hague said he personally knew the mine chief executive, Peter Whittall, and wanted to convey the Green Party's "enormous sympathy and also enormous respect for the integrity, responsibility and compassion he has unfailingly shown".

Act Party leader Rodney Hide said the people of Greymouth possessed immense strength of character.

"We have seen your courage and determination time and time again, and have seen you face adversity head on," he said.

"The days to come will be incredibly difficult, emotionally and physically, but we know you will come through this and your community will become stronger."

Mr Hide said the miners who died were "part of the backbone of New Zealand...they left for work on Friday never once imagining they would not be coming home. I cannot begin to comprehend how those families must be feeling right now."

Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton said the nation had clung to a glimmer of hope for six days, and put faith in the possibility of a miracle.

"Mining is an iconic industry on the West Coast," he said.

"But we must refuse to accept that any of the deaths are a necessary cost of mining...Pike River is a modern, state-of-the-art mine with presumably all the latest technology, but that didn't save the lives of the 29 men we lost yesterday."

'New Zealand's annus horribilis'

United Future leader Peter Dunne said the disaster stopped a nation, and he spoke of a woman he knew in Christchurch who was mother of one of the dead.

"You have people who have gone through an earthquake, coming together to get over that, now faced with another tragedy," he said.

"This must surely be New Zealand's annus horribilis."

Mr Dunne said the challenge now was to never forget the West Coast families and to do everything that could be done to assist them now and in the future.

Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Falvell spoke in Maori.

"To those who have passed on, to the great trees of the forest who have been felled, rest in peace," he said.

"I stand here to offer these words to you who are hidden in the darkness. You were strong men, hard workers, experts in your craft and the heart cries out for you. This whole nation grieves, the people of this country and the world cry for you."

MPs sang the hymn How Great Thou Art in Maori, and Parliament adjourned.

'We share your grief'

MPs also put political differences aside and lined up to sign the condolences book set up at Parliament today to express their sympathies.

Speaker Lockwood Smith's comments led the flood of messages: "On behalf of the New Zealand House of Representatives, I extend our heartfelt sympathies," he said.

"We have watched the excruciating trauma you have suffered. We share your grief.

"Your loved sons, husbands, fathers, brothers and friends are now embedded in our heritage and will always be remembered as special New Zealanders."

Labour MPs Annette King and Ruth Dyson, National MP Simon Bridges, and ACT's John Boscawen and Rodney Hide were with the many who signed the book.

Labour MP Darren Hughes wrote: Every Kiwi is a West Coaster now to help you through your pain. To the fallen miners - we will all be there for your families."

"No one should have to go to work and risk not coming home to their families," Labour MP Darien Fenton wrote. "This tragic loss for all New Zealanders."

The pages were also filled with messages from Parliament visitors, among them Dutch ambassador Arie van der Wiel and Brazilian ambassador Renate Stille.

- NZPA