Blame game over Pike River starts in earnest as task force leader describes nation's workplace record as 'extremely poor'.

Reaction to the Royal Commission on the Pike River explosions from former UK mines inspector Bob Stevenson and family spokesman Bernie Monk has described NZ mining practices as 'third world' and an 'embarrassment to you'. They say that if this had happened overseas 'your men would be out'.

Kate Wilkinson has defended her decision not to stand down from all her ministerial portfolios after her department was heavily criticised by the Pike River inquiry.

International mine safety experts have today met families of Pike River victims to start formulating a new plan to enter the collapsed mine and recover the 29 bodies.

Kate Wilkinson would have gained a lot more public respect had she resigned from the Cabinet altogether rather than just her Labour portfolio, writes John Armstrong.

Rachelle Weaver sat through almost eight weeks of hearings, trying to work out why her partner, a father-to-be, died in Pike River in 2010.

Prime Minister John Key is squarely blaming the Pike River Coal Company for the disaster that killed 29 West Coast workers two years ago.

The lawyer representing the Pike River families says the Royal Commission's report - released today - gives an "unrelenting picture of failure at virtually every level''.

Kate Wilkinson has resigned as Labour Minister following today's release of the report on the Pike River tragedy.

The emergency response to the Pike River disaster was "cumbersome", lacked expertise and may have impeded a rescue.

Prime Minister John Key says New Zealanders can expect a sobering report into the explosion that killed 29 men at Pike River mine today.

An anxious wait for the families of the 29 men killed in the Pike River mining disaster will end today when the royal commission's report on the tragedy is released.

An Australian contractor which lost three staff members in the Pike River Mine disaster has been fined $46,800 after admitting breaches of the Health and Safety Act.

Pike River contractor Valley Longwall will be sentenced today for failing to ensure the safety of workers who died in explosions at the mine.

Former Pike River Coal boss Peter Whittall will defend charges he failed to keep his miners safe but says he is sorry the tragedy ever occurred.

Pike River Mine families' spokesman Bernie Monk said he was gutted after the PM refused to help with a mine re-entry, after the mine's owners agreed to an attempt.

The Pike River Royal Commission of Inquiry will not be reopened for more evidence and there will be no delay in the commission's report being published, a court has ruled.