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![Pike contractors may never be paid - receiver](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Pike contractors may never be paid - receiver
There's a "strong possibility" Pike River Coal mine contractors will never receive money owed to them, a receiver says.
![Police wrong to raise rescue hopes - mayor](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Police wrong to raise rescue hopes - mayor
Police made the "wrong call" to raise hopes for a rescue after the first Pike River Coal mine explosion, Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn says.
![Coroner's finding - first blast fatal](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Coroner's finding - first blast fatal
All 29 men lost in the Pike River disaster died within minutes of the first blast in the West Coast coal mine, a coronial inquest into the disaster has concluded.
![Diesel smell after blast, court told](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Diesel smell after blast, court told
The man charged with overseeing the Pike River mine smelled diesel or exhaust in the air about the time it was hit with an explosion that killed 29 men.
![First blast lethal, Pike inquest told](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
First blast lethal, Pike inquest told
The 29 workers who died in the Pike River disaster would have died within minutes of the original explosion at the West Coast coal mine, a coronial hearing in Greymouth has heard.
![Miners' recovery not in new plan](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Miners' recovery not in new plan
A proposed Pike River mine stabilisation plan doesn't allow for the recovery of the miners and won’t guarantee the future of the mine.
![PM 'passing the buck' on Pike River](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
PM 'passing the buck' on Pike River
Labour leader Phil Goff has accused John Key of "passing the buck" on whether to permanently seal the Pike River coal mine. Receivers have been given until 5pm today to come up with a plan for stabilising the mine.
![Pike families reveal mixed emotions](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Pike families reveal mixed emotions
Some Pike River relatives were always resigned to the fact that the remains would never be returned.
![Pike River families fight recovery decision](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Pike River families fight recovery decision
The families of the 29 lost Pike River miners say they are "gravely concerned" that the Government and police are abandoning recovery efforts at the mine and are calling for the decision to be reassessed.
![PM: Mine sealing 'not about money'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
PM: Mine sealing 'not about money'
The Pike River mine will be sealed and there is little or no chance of the bodies of 29 men killed being recovered in the near future, says Prime Minister John Key. He said it was "not an issue of money or time or commitment."
![Closing mine 'worst case scenario'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Closing mine 'worst case scenario'
Closing the Pike River coal mine and handing the land back to the government is the worst-case scenario, according to the company's receiver.
![Police give up trying to bring out Pike bodies](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Police give up trying to bring out Pike bodies
The Pike River Mine will be handed back to the company's receivers, Police Commissioner Howard Broad announced yesterday.
![Gas levels hamper Pike River efforts again](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Gas levels hamper Pike River efforts again
Rising gas levels have again stopped workers trying to recover the bodies of 29 men trapped inside the Pike River Coal mine today.
![Conman posing as Pike River miner in custody](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Conman posing as Pike River miner in custody
A man who allegedly posed as a Pike River miner to steal from a family who befriended him was remanded in custody when he appeared in court today.
![Thief posing as Pike River miner 'pulled heartstrings'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Thief posing as Pike River miner 'pulled heartstrings'
Police are on the lookout for a man who posed as a Pike River miner to steal from a family who befriended him on Christmas Eve.
![Australia beckons Pike River miners](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Australia beckons Pike River miners
Up to 50 redundant Pike River Coal mine employees could soon be crossing the Tasman to take up lucrative positions in Australian pits.
![Pike River temperatures continue to fluctuate](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Pike River temperatures continue to fluctuate
Temperatures inside the Pike River Coal mine continue to fluctuate, frustrating those charged with retrieving the bodies of 29 men killed in a series of explosions since November 19.
![Contractors' families will be paid](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Contractors' families will be paid
Payouts will be made to the contracting companies that employed the men who died in the massive explosions at the Pike River coal mine, receivers announced today.