Minute's silence to honour miners

The New Zealand flag, at the entrance to the Queenstown Mall, flies at half-mast yesterday, in...
The New Zealand flag, at the entrance to the Queenstown Mall, flies at half-mast yesterday, in honour of the 29 miners presumed dead following the second explosion at the Pike River mine on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Tracey Roxburgh.
A minute's silence at noon today in Queenstown will provide an opportunity for Wakatipu residents to mark the Pike River mine tragedy.

The New Zealand flag at the entrance to the Mall was lowered to half-mast yesterday in honour of the 29 miners presumed dead in the Pike River Mine explosions near Greymouth, creating a sombre picture against a fittingly grey sky.

Queenstown Lakes district Mayor Vanessa van Uden asked the Wakatipu community to join her in a "simple ceremony" to pay their respects to the miners, their families and the people of the West Coast.

"The people of the West Coast are our near neighbours and our community is feeling deeply for their loss.

"This simple gesture is a chance for the people of the Lakes District to pay their respects.

"It's important we make that opportunity available.

"It will be a simple opportunity for our community to express the sorrow being felt by the entire nation," Ms van Uden said.

The ceremony would be held at the Village Green in the Queenstown CBD regardless of weather conditions.

"Rain or shine, we will mark this tragedy."

People were also asked to bring a candle to light before observing the minute's silence.

 

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