Solid Energy is largely to blame for the "dumbing down'' of mining industry standards that allowed the Pike River disaster to happen, MP Damien O'Connor says.

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.

The axe suspended for two months over Greymouth's Spring Creek Mine finally fell today, amputating more than 200 jobs.

Close to 500 breadwinners will lose their jobs, and more than $50 million a year will be sucked out of the Greymouth economy, as Spring Creek Mine is moved into care and maintenance.

Miners were emotional after a meeting with the Minister of State Owned Enterprises, saying he had made up his mind over their proposal before the meeting began.

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.