Pike River and quake inquiry report dates extended

File photo / APN

Report dates for the inquiries into the Pike River mine tragedy and the Christchurch earthquake building failures have been extended.

Explosions at the West Coast coal mine in 2010 left 29 men dead, and a Royal Commission of Inquiry was ordered into the incident.

The commissioners were originally due to report back by March 31, but requested an extension late last year.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today that the date had been extended to September 28, saying the commissioners were best placed to report on progress in light of the hearings to date and the availability of certain evidence.

"The Royal Commission is looking both at what happened in the Pike River mine, and also important policy questions that arise from the completed hearings, including recommendations for the future. We cannot rush these deliberations, which have been the subject of very wide-ranging and comprehensive evidence to date," he said.

Meanwhile, the date for the quake report has also changed from the originally scheduled April 11.

The commission's report will now to be delivered in parts, with the first due by June 29. The first part will look at matters that assist in decision-making on rebuilding and repair work in Christchurch.

The rest of the report will be due by November 12, with the exact timing of each part to be determined by the commission.