Present and past Govt ministers are likely to come under scrutiny from the royal commission of inquiry into the Pike River mine tragedy.

Flames were last night shooting from the top of a 108m ventilation shaft at the Pike River coal mine - and only a couple of mountain peaks away a 43-year-old fire from the Strongman mine continues to billow smoke.

Families of the 29 men who died in the Pike River mine continue to be frustrated that the recovery of the bodies is still not underway as a massive fire, with flames shooting through a mine shaft, continues to burn.

The Pike River Coal mine may have to be temporarily sealed after a fourth blast sent smoke and flames spewing from underground.

A royal commission of inquiry into the Pike River tragedy will look at causes of the blast and the initial response.

Jim O'Donnell helped drag his dead mates out of the Strongman mine in a marathon rescue.

Families grieving after the Pike River disaster have called on a lawyer who rallied for victims in a previous West Coast disaster.

Large amounts of smoke and flames are coming from the Pike River Coal mine after a fourth, powerful explosion today and boss Peter Whittall says it may have to be temporarily sealed.

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

The Pike River blast has led some miners to discuss whether it is safe to remain in the industry.

An NZ Mines Rescue member wants the public to understand what the rescue team members are going through.

One of the miners who died at Pike River told a friend he feared for his safety in the month before last week's explosion.

"What gave armchair critics the right to criticise and worse - accuse the rescuers of deliberately sitting on their hands?"

Broadcaster Maggie Barry, whose cousin Michael Monk was lost at the Pike River mine, understands when people asked counsellors "funny" questions.