Pike River: PM to propose inquiry

Prime Minister John Key (R) with Pike River CEO Peter Whittall. Photo / Simon Baker

Prime Minister John Key will take a proposal for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Pike River mining disaster to Cabinet tomorrow.

The proposal, for a three-person commission, will also recommend a judge to chair the commission, a spokeswoman for Mr Key said today.

The inquiry will be separate from police, Department of Labour and coronial inquiries.

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said the Royal Commission of inquiry should be set up in two parts.

"Part one would focus on the specific causes of the tragedy to give closure to families and guidance for the future operation of the mine," he said.

"Part two would focus on the related issue of the broader safety and regulation of underground mining and could take longer to report back."

Dr Norman also said it was essential to have a miner on the commission.

"For the sake of everyone involved, and to ensure that we get to the bottom of the cause of the explosion, the Inquiry needs to have maximum credibility and legitimacy. To do that it needs to include a representative of workers alongside industry expertise," he said.

- NZPA