The bodies of 29 men killed in the Pike River Coal mine could be recovered within three years, according to a report commissioned by the victims' families.
The review concluded that if the mine is sold, the recovery operation could be completed by June 2015, Radio New Zealand reports.
The families' lawyer, Nicholas Davidson QC, says the report is the first assessment of a recovery time-frame that the families have had since the men died in explosions in November 2010.
He says if the mine is bought and if the purchaser can reach the coal, they can get the bodies.
But Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn says 2015 is too long a wait for the families, who need the bodies recovered for closure.
Workers are expected to reach 2.3km down into the mine in a few weeks - and that will be within 100 metres of the men's bodies, Mr Kokshoorn says.
"I don't know why it takes that long; I haven't had that information given to me yet, but I feel it is too lengthy a time to wait."
NZN