The rescued Chilean miner dubbed the 'Casanova Nurse' after his wife and girlfriend came to blows over him has a second mistress

Most of Chile's 33 rescued miners are preparing to return to the homes they last saw more than 70 days ago.

Some cried, others prayed, most just smiled and wrapped their arms around the wives.

Follow the rescue of the 33 trapped Chilean miners as it unfolds with nzherald's Latest Updates.

After 69 long days trapped in a collapsed mine hundreds of metres underground, 33 miners are being winched to safety one by one.

Mario Sepulveda has reached the surface, becoming the second of the 33 trapped Chilean miners to do so. There was clapping and cheering as he was met by his wife Elvira.

Florencio Avalos, the first of 33 miners to be rescued, has surfaced after 69 days underground. He stepped out of a rescue capsule amid sobs from his young son and received a bracing bear hug from Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.

The rescue of the trapped Chilean miners may come sooner than expected - forecasts now put it happening from midday today (NZT).

Monitoring gear developed in New Zealand is being used to help doctors assess the vital signs of the miners trapped in the Chilean mine.

NZ oil and gas exploration will get a substantial boost in government resources, including funding to chase deep-sea methane hydrates that have yet to be commercially exploited anywhere in the world.