There will be no attempt to rescue 29 miners trapped in a West Coast mine tonight, with no further air quality sampling until tomorrow.

West Coast mine blast survivor suffers a double tragedy after his brother was trapped, and his grandfather died.

An Australian mine expert says there is no urgent need to reach the trapped miners "at this point in time", backing the Pike River rescue approach.

With luck, the country will receive news that the brave 29 are back above ground and telling tall tales over a beer.

Police say a bid to rescue or recover 29 miners trapped in a West Coast coal mine is on hold, and could begin at any time over the next two days.

Mining companies around the world face a constant struggle to avoid accumulations of methane gas and coal dust underground.

Since its announcement in 2005, the Herald has tracked the progress of the Pike River coal mine.

29 miners remain trapped underground after yesterday's blast at Pike River Coal's West Coat mine.

Cabinet ministers were last night travelling to the Pike River Mine, as the Government offered assistance in the rescue of the trapped miners.

The Herald's energy reporter, who has visited Pike River, reflects on the project's delays, and now disaster.

Send your messages of support to the families and friends of the trapped West Coast miners.

Four car parking spaces have been removed from the scene of a fatal crash involving a cyclist in Auckland earlier this week.

Steven Joyce is considering "regulatory changes" after crashes left five cyclists dead and two critically injured this week.

A 124-year-old heritage building in downtown Auckland was torn down this morning after large cracks were found in its walls.