Two women whose relatives died in the Pike River Mine disaster are continuing their legal action.
An Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) memorial at Blackball to the 29 victims of the 2010 disaster. Photo: SUPPLIED
Sonya Rockhouse and Anna Osborne are appealing after the High Court turned down their application to review Worksafe New Zealand's decision to drop charges against the mine's chief executive, Peter Whittall.
The prosecution was dropped after an insurance payment of more than $3 million to the 29 victims' families.
The court turned down two women's application last month.
Ms Rockhouse, who lost her son Ben in the explosion, said they were appealing so that somebody was finally held accountable for the disaster.
"Nobody has stood up and said sorry to us, no one has been held to account. Everyone has just walked away, washed their hands of it and left us to pick up all the pieces," she said. "What kind of law is that, to leave us in that position?"
She said the families were not asked if they were happy to be paid reparations in return for the charges being dropped.
The Council of Trade Unions is helping the women take the appeal, and its president Richard Wagstaff said the court's decision was wrong and was not in the public interest.
