It's a tough day for families of the 29 Pike River miners who were killed in the explosion 10 years ago on Thursday.
At 3:44pm, the Greymouth site was rocked while 31 miners were working inside. Only two men were able to escape - Russel Smith and Daniel Rockhouse.
Pike River families spokesperson Sonya Rockhouse, whose 21-year-old son Ben was killed, remains hopeful people will one day be held to account for the tragedy.
"I believe that's [accountability] coming - I really do believe that's coming," she told The AM Show on Thursday. "We've got a good team now working for us - and I actually think we will see those responsible in a court of law having to face the families and explain themselves.
"We've got to keep that faith."
Memorials will be held around the country on Thursday. A minute's silence will happen at 3:44pm at the mine portal as a roll call of the 29 men takes place - a private memorial service to be attended by 113 family members from 14 families.
Anna Osbourne, whose husband Milton was killed in the explosion, told The AM Show it's a tough day but she'll keep fighting for the victims' families.
"We are doing the best we can for all Pike River families and that's to our detriment at times because we lost loved ones as well.
"Ten years on and my husband is still very much in my heart, and I can't forget him - I can't forget that day."
Bernie Monk's son Michael died in the disaster. He's praising the Government for its commitment to getting answers over the past couple of years.
In 2018, the incoming Coalition Government announced it would go ahead with a plan to re-enter the mine - a promise made ahead of the 2017 election. Re-entering Pike River was a bottom line for the 2017 election kingmaker Winston Peters when his NZ First Party joined forces with Labour.
Monk said it's unbelievable 10 years have passed.
"We're going to remember the people that are not with us - we want to tell our men, 'we're only 100 metres away from you now.'"
He said frustration is still high 10 years on.
"They [the police] still haven't come up with the reasons why it happened.
"It's so frustrating," Monk said.
At the time of the explosion, 32 children, including teenagers, lost their dads.
