A trip to the Pike River coal mine provided a sense of closure for some of the lost miners' relatives.

Up to 500 relatives and friends of the Pike River miners travelled to the mine today, which one mother described as "very healing".

Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn wants the mining industry to learn from past mistakes and has called for a royal inquiry.

Heroism probably involves an instant calculation of known risk against likely benefit.

Superintendent Gary Knowles has been at the helm of the Pike River disaster, unable to provide answers to the questions the world wanted answered. Next, delivering news no one wanted to hear.

The riches of the Paparoa Range were enticing, but the cost of extracting them was greater than anyone imagined, writes Grant Bradley

"We pray that their moment of fear becomes eternal peace," said Monsignor Gerry O'Connor during an emotional tribute to the Pike River miners in Greymouth.

Families of the dead men due to be bused to the Pike River mine tomorrow will still go, despite a third explosion at the mine this afternoon.

There has been a third explosion at the Pike River mine this afternoon. The blast occurred at 3.39pm and lasted for 23 seconds.

As the West Coast struggles with the emotional cost of the Pike River tragedy, chairman John Dow has reassured the community there is still a future for the mine and the company.

It is likely to be several more days before operations will start to stabilise the Pike River mine so that the bodies of 29 men can recovered, police say.

The GAG unit flown for the Pike River coal mine recovery effort is 'no gimmick' and has been used successfully in Queensland mines, the head of an Australian miners' union says.

NZ Oil & Gas has today provided the balance of a $25 million short term funding facility to Pike River Coal.

A Pike River Relief Fund Trust has been established for the families of the 29 men who died in the Pike River coal mine.

A small West Coast community will now face the task of recovering and rebuilding following a disaster of devastating proportions.

International experts say they are shocked a mining disaster the magnitude of the Pike River tragedy occurred in a modern mine.

Liquid nitrogen could be used to stabilise the situation in the Pike River mine, experts told the Science Media Centre.

Mines Rescue workers who wanted to save 29 men trapped underground in the Pike River coal mine remain united in their desire to get their brothers back, their leader says.

A large jet engine which stabilises gases may be used to quench the fire in the Pike River coal mine so that rescuers can safely recover the bodies of 29 men inside.