A decision on going back into the Pike River Mine is weeks away and plans for the examination of the scene are well advanced.
But, police admit they don't know exactly what they'll find if the re-entry of the Pike River Mine goes ahead.
Detective superintendent Peter Read has been in charge of a crime scene that he’s been unable to examine since 2010.
“It's an unfinished job, I've got something to go back and do, something to finish and finish for the families as well.”
The re-entry of the Pike River mine still needs ministerial approval, but police are making plans.
They are training staff who are willing to go underground and examine a scene like no other - a staged recovery of the 2.3 kilometre drift.
Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Collins has walked 30 metres in - his first mine experience.
“To be in there and be right there by that seal was probably the moment that brought home the importance of what we're doing.”
Police know some of what they'll find, a loader, equipment and robots - which have only travelled around 1500 metres in.
Read says, “We know that that area is clear of bodies from the robot footage but that doesn't mean the robot footage has missed something and beyond that is a little bit unknown there is a possibility there is something there a body or a body part"
Retrieving bodies and finding the cause of the disaster would be the best possible outcome for police.
Safety, however, is paramount.
Police going into Pike will receive extensive training from mines rescue and enter a working gold mine to experience conditions first-hand.
“We don't like to have unfinished job and this is an unfinished job,” says Read.
After eight years police are ready and willing to enter New Zealand's most complex crime scene.
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