Police Commissioner Howard Broad today praised the work of Superintendent Gary Knowles, the police officer who led the mission to rescue 29 miners.

Check here for developments in the wake of the Pike River mine disaster today.

Pike River CEO Peter Whittall expressed his regret today at how he initially delivered his news to the families of the 29 miners lost in the disaster.

Levels of dangerous gases at the Pike River mine are still high and rescuers are unable to enter to recover the bodies of 29 trapped men, police said this afternoon.

A mining expert explains how to 'gag' a mine to make it safe for bodies to be recovered and gives his view on the second blast.

The families of some of the men trapped in the Pike River mine expressed sorrow rather than anger at a meeting today, John Key says.

World leaders are sending support and sympathy to the families of the men who died at the Pike River coal mine.

Rescue authorities are vowing to recover the bodies of the 29 miners - but admit they don't know when it will happen.

The Pike River CEO had to give the worst news possible to families who had looked to him for hope.

The abrupt certainty of a second blast at Pike River shattered hundreds of loving hearts.

Before the service began, 29 candles flickered on a table near the altar surrounded by many unlit candles waiting to be lit by mourners.

'It's the finality of the second explosion that rips at the guts of the country,' John Key tells media.

The first four hours after Friday's Pike River mine blast was the only time rescuers could have entered the mine, a safety expert says.

It was Pike River CEO Peter Whittall who broke the news to the miners' families this afternoon, that their worst fears had been realised.

Unscrupulous reporters have tried posing as victim support workers to gain access to distressed families, reports the Greymouth Star.

A robot sent into the Pike River coal mine has found a miner's hat with the light still on. Footage taken underground will be shown to families at 4pm.

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.

Families at this morning's Pike River briefing were unhappy they were not shown blast footage until yesterday, a miner's father says.

Dramatic security camera film has revealed the scale of Friday's Pike River mine blast.

Relatives of the trapped miners reacted with disbelief and anger to news a robot had malfunctioned.

The robot sent into the Pike River Mine was operating outside of its primary role when it broke down.

"They don't understand it fully. For them, it's 'Dad's on a holiday' or 'he's just stuck underground'.

Families have viewed footage of the Pike River mine blast this afternoon. Lawrie Drew, father of Zen Drew, said the footage was difficult to watch.