Director of Coal Services and general vice-president of CFMEU Mining & Energy division Wayne McAndrew and Coal Services chief executive Mark Coyne presented the cheque yesterday to Union Trustee of the fund Ged O’Connell.

Coyne said the cheque was a sign of Coal Services’ continued support for the New Zealand community in the wake of the Pike River Coal mine explosions, which occurred in November last year.

“The New Zealand Police Department has reimbursed Coal Services for the cost of the provision of this assistance and although these funds are unable to replace the loss of life suffered in the disaster, we contributed the $239,317.80 of costs to assist the families of the mineworkers,” Coyne said.

“Half of the proceeds donated to the Pike River Miners Relief Fund will be contributed to a community fund being administered by the Grey District Council. Half will be set aside for the education of those children who lost their fathers in the incident.

“We, at Coal Services, have renewed our commitment to assisting the New Zealand Police Department and our thoughts remain with the families of those 29 miners lost in the fatal incident.”