State-owned coal miner Solid Energy's plans to turn low-grade Southland lignite coal deposits into massive new industries make no sense and the coal should remain in the ground, says the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

The fire which has been raging for days at the Pike River Coal mine is definitely out, say Australians brought in to operate the GAG jet unit which has been pumping carbon dioxide into the mine.

Pike River Coal will have to reduce its workforce when it is ready to re-establish operations, but CEO Peter Whittall says reports of possible receivership were "extremely premature".

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.

2010 can only described as an annus calamitosus [disastrous year] for the New Zealand family.

In the wake of the Pike River tragedy, PhD student Jesse Dykstra blogs on the mining industry and the associated risks

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.

Another explosion shortly before 2pm today damaged some of the infrastructure at Pike River mine, but a "gagging" operation is still on track to commence tomorrow.

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

Leigh Hart, aka That Guy, shares a very personal account of how mining disasters can affect families.

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

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

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