An operation has begun to extinguish the fire coming from the vent shaft of the Pike River mine and cool the surrounding concrete pad, using water pumped up from a nearby creek.

It could take weeks for a GAG unit to put out a coal fire in the Pike River mine, police say.

"Our lives changed forever" when the Pike River Mine exploded, the mining company chief executive told mourners today.

West Coast poet Helen Wilson has offered an emotional tribute to the men who lost their lives in the Pike River mine.

Photos of the third and fourth explosions at the Pike River mine.

An Australian expert was arriving in Greymouth tonight to provide advice on the jet engine GAG operation at the ill-fated Pike River Coal mine, where it's "highly likely" part of a coal seam has caught fire.

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.

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.

Bells tolled and flags were lowered to half mast today to pay tribute to the 29 miners lost in the Pike River tragedy.

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.