Pike River live: chronic shortage of inspectors

Peter Whittall, Pike River chief executive. Photo / file

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As New Zealand's worst mining tragedy unfolded, Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall faced cameras and answered hundreds of questions.

He was praised for his forthrightness fronting the unfolding operation aimed at rescuing the 29 miners and contractors trapped in his company's explosion-hit mine.

Today Mr Whittall is expected to face questions again - this time in the witness box at the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Pike River tragedy.

It will be the first time he has spoken on the November disaster in months.

His statement comes after six days of witness testimony, some of which has been highly critical of the safety measures in place at the Pike River mine.

Solid Energy chief executive Don Elder was first in the witness box at the Royal Commission.

He said insufficient planning, chronic financial under-performance, and a lack of knowledge of the "complex" geology on the West Coast had the potential to cause safety risks at Pike River.

Lawyers for Pike River countered with questions about Solid Energy's purchase bid for the Pike River mine - and a suggestion Mr Elder was trying to talk down its price.

Experienced West Coast miner Harry Bell later said he had repeatedly blown the whistle on inadequate safety measures in the mine development.

Ventilation in place while he was working on drilling at the mine in 2007 was inadequate, he said.

He told Pike River's technical manager a proposal to drill through the Hawera Fault with a single drive was "nonsensical, madness", due to gas risks.

Geologist Jane Newman said she was worried about a lack geological investigation at Pike River.

Those concerns came to a head when her husband, Nigel Newman told her he was going over to Pike in July or August 2010.

She told him not to go.

The Department of Labour is expected to complete its testimony to the commission this morning.

Mr Whittall reportedly spent yesterday preparing his testimony with lawyers. He is expected to be in the witness box this afternoon.