twenty nine
deep in a hole in the ground
trying to earn an honest crust
in the dark amidst the heat
and the black coal dust
none that I knew
but now a whole nation do
we know not from where
that small spark came
which rent the air
shaking the ground
blowing debris 2.2k
out the portal round
twenty nine good honest blokes
who at the end of the day
liked to share a drink and a joke
husbands, fathers, brothers,
uncles, grandfathers, sons
whose days have ended
with the setting sun
the nation mourns
twenty nineworking men
that went up the hole
never to return again
at Pike River Mine 2010

The youngest was a 17 year old West Coast teenager on his first day underground and the oldest was 62.

Most were New Zealanders, but there were also two Scotsmen, two Australians and a South African.

Those claimed by the tragedy:

- Conrad John Adams, 43, of Greymouth.

- Malcolm Campbell, 25, a Scotsman living in Greymouth, was to marry his New Zealand fiancee on December 18.

- Glen Peter Cruse, 35, Cobden.

- Allan John Dixon, 59, of Runanga. Father of two children.

- Zen Wodin Drew, 21, of Greymouth, an apprentice builder.

- Christopher Peter Duggan, 31, of Greymouth, had not been working in mining for very long and had moved from forestry because he wanted a change.

- Joseph Ray Dunbar, from Greymouth, had just turned 17 and was the youngest of the miners. He was meant to start work on Monday but begged to be allowed to begin work early.

- John Leonard Hale, 45, of Ruatapu.

- Daniel Thomas Herk, 36, of Runanga, grew and had worked in mines a long time.

- David Mark Hoggart, 33, of Foxton.

- Richard Bennett Holling, 41, of Blackball, had been married for just over a year.

- Andrew David Hurren, 32, of Greymouth.

- Jacobus (Koos) Albertus Jonker, 47, of Cobden, but originally from South Africa, did not like working in the mine because he felt it was unsafe. Reports said he had applied to transfer a day before the explosion.

- William John Joynson, 49, of Dunollie, originally from Australia and had been working for a number of years in NZ and Australian mines. Married father of two.

- Riki Steve Keane, 28, of Greymouth, played first five-eighth for Blaketown seniors Rugby Team.

- Terry David Kitchin, 41, from Runanga, had finished his shift before the explosion, but opted to do two hours overtime.

- Samuel Peter Mackie, 26, of Greymouth.

- Francis Skiddy Marden, 41, of Runanga.

- Michael Nolan Hanmer Monk, 23, from Greymouth, a rugby star.

- Stuart Gilbert Mudge, 31, of Runanga, was originally from Whangarei.

- Kane Barry Nieper, 33, of Greymouth, was married to the daughter of a local contractor and had a young family.

- Peter O'Neill, 55, from Runanga, a West Coast rugby league identity.

- Milton John Osborne, 54, of Ngahere. A Grey District councillor and "great guy.

- Brendan John Palmer, 27, of Cobden, a former farmer, had been working at Pike River for a few months. His father Marty also worked in the mine, but was on a different shift on the day of the explosion.

- Benjamin David Rockhouse, 21, of Greymouth, brother of Daniel Rockhouse, one of the two surviving miners.

- Peter James Rodger, 40, of Greymouth, was originally from Scotland. A former oil rig worker.

- Rugby league player Blair David Sims, 28, of Greymouth, married and the father of two daughters.

- Australian Joshua Adam Ufer, 25, was on secondment to the mine. His fiancee Rachelle Weaver is three months pregnant.

- Keith Thomas Valli, 62, commuted each week from his home in Wairio, near Winton in central Southland. Bearing a name long-linked with mining, he formerly worked in a mine at Nightcaps.

We all mourn the loss

may your god go with you
and be with your families