Two minutes' silence for miners

Prime Minister John Key, with Grey District mayor Tony Kokshoorn, with the book of condolences he signed during his visit to Greymouth. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Prime Minister John Key has asked all New Zealanders to observe two minutes' silence at 2pm tomorrow as the Pike River Official Remembrance Service begins.

The service, to remember the 29 men who lost their lives in the Pike River Mine, will be held at the Omoto Racecourse in Greymouth.

"I hope all of New Zealand will join with those of us at the service and observe two minutes' silence at 2pm," Mr Key said. "This tragedy has affected all of us and tomorrow is an opportunity to join together in grief."

The service will be led by Reverend Tim Mora who said the two minutes' silence would link the West Coast to the rest of the country.

"That action will be one for those gathered at Omoto Racecourse and across the country, so we will come together in grief," he said.

Reverend Mora said that it was vital that the West Coast community and the nation grieved together.

"Grief is something that is both intensely private and public. No matter how hard it is, we come together as the Coast community and a nation because it is something we must do."

The service

John Key, Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn and Pike River Coal CEO Peter Whittall will address the service, which is expected to last 75 minutes.

Twenty-nine tables will be set up in front of the staging area at the racecourse, one for each of the men who died.

Families of the miners, the Pike River mine company community and dignitaries will file past the tables and place fern fronds on a central remembrance table while the wider public will be able to place ferns in tribute baskets.

The Grey District combined primary school choir will sing and a combined kapa haka group from local schools will also take part in the service. There will also be a special poem composed for the mine tragedy by local writer Helen Wilson.

7000 attendees expected

Around 7000 people are expected to attend the service, with extra grandstands being brought to the racecourse to accommodate them. Free shuttle services are being provided around the West Coast region.

Mr Key will be accompanied to the service by his wife Bronagh, the Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand and Lady Susan Satyanand, and Speaker of the House, Lockwood Smith.

The service will also be attended by Deputy Prime Minister Bill English, Leader of the Opposition Phil Goff and other leaders and ministers including Pita Sharples, Rodney Hide, Peter Dunne, Russel Norman, Gerry Brownlee, Nick Smith, Judith Collins and Kate Wilkinson.

Also attending, in recognition of the loss of lives from countries other than New Zealand, will be the Australian Minister of Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson, The Australian High Commissioner HE Paul Sullivan, British High Commissioner HE Victoria Treadell and the South African High Commissioner Anthony Mongalo.

The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Pedro Herrera and Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, Bob Clarke, will also be at the service.

- With NZ Herald staff