Drilling on a new borehole into the Pike River coal mine is in its final stages, with 20m of the 162m tunnel to go.

An Aussie mine expert recalls when rescuers were within metres of 12 trapped miners, only to be recalled due to "off the chart" gas readings.

Keep up with the latest updates from the Pike River mine, where 29 miners have been trapped since Friday's blast.

Rescuers plan to send a Defence Force robot into the Pike River coal mine where 29 miners remain trapped after an explosion on Friday, one gas levels drop.

A two-year-old Gisborne boy is in a critical but stable condition in Starship Children's Hospital after being run over by a car in a driveway.

If you haven't got time to read all our in-depth coverage of the Pike River Mine disaster, here's a quick summary of five key things you need to know today.

The families of the trapped miners are holding onto hope that their loved ones will emerge alive.

Police have officially named the 29 miners trapped in the Pike River coal mine on the West Coast since Friday.

Pike River says equipment such as robots could create sparks in a gaseous environment.

Testing of gas levels in the Pike River mine continued overnight, but the mine is still deemed too dangerous for a rescue attempt to be mounted.

Rescuers are on standby to enter the Pike River coal mine to bring out their brothers, and will go in at the slightest opportunity.

'I was saying, 'Please, please help me someone. God, I don't care. Anyone.' - Daniel Rockhouse, who was closest to the blast.

Rescue workers, who have one of their own trapped in the Pike River coal mine, hope a hole being drilled in the mine tonight will reveal air samples allowing them to enter the mine.

A 24-year-old man has been arrested over the death of an elderly Wanganui woman in a hit-and-run yesterday.

It's been revealed a member of the mine rescue team is among those trapped. Officials say gas levels inside the mine are falling, but unstable.

The Pike River mine blast has made global headlines, with two Britons, two Australians and a South African are among the 29 missing.