Pike River families are again pushing for a mine re-entry, hoping that a scene examination could lead to someone finally being held accountable.

Pike River families were told tonight the police would not prosecute anyone over the November 2010 disaster that claimed 29 men.

In her judgment against what was in many respects a phantom company on trial, Judge Jane Farish was clear about where the buck should stop, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Prime Minister John Key will not commit the Government to step in and pay court-ordered compensation to the families of those who died in the Pike River Mine disaster.

Editorial: One way or another the families of the men killed in the Pike River mine must be given the compensation that has been awarded to them by the Greymouth District Court.

One of the Pike River Mine directors has indicated there is a possibility he will contribute to the $3.41 million reparation cost the company was ordered to pay to families of the men who died in the mine three years ago.

One of the Pike River Mine directors says he may consider contributing to the $3.41million reparation ordered to families of the men who died in the mine three years ago.

The state wants Pike River Coal Ltd to pay massive fines and reparation of up to $125,000 for each of the 29 men who died in a horrific workplace explosion.

Pike River family members shed tears for their loved ones today and expressed anger at Pike River Coal Ltd for not taking full responsibility for the tragedy.

The trial of former Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall relating to the 2010 mining disaster that claimed 29 lives will be moved to Wellington.

Families of Pike River mine victims say they will ensure that recommendations from the health and safety taskforce are acted on.

Any survivors of the explosion that tore through the Pike River coalmine would have been stumbling around in the dark, a Greymouth District Court hearing has heard.

The next hearing in the case against former Pike River CEO Peter Whittall will take place in Greymouth this morning.

A crunch five-hour showdown with the Government has left Pike River mine families confident of recovering the bodies of the dead 29 workers.

Editorial: The Prime Minister's first instinct over the recovery of the 29 men killed in the Pike River mine tragedy was the right one.

John Key today fronted an angry group of Pike River Mine families in Greymouth to apologise - and pledge funding of about $10m to recover the main tunnel.

Prime Minister John Key will today apologise to the families of the miners who died in the Pike River tragedy more than two years ago.

Having a middleman able to absorb the criticism and stay immune to the moral and emotional elements of the Pike tragedy makes sense politically, writes Gerard Morris.

The Government says it will move as quickly as possible to implement all 16 mine safety recommendations made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the tragedy at Pike River Coal Mine.

Whistleblowing saves lives but for it to be effective there must be a mechanism for timely disclosure as well as protection of the whistleblower, writes Gehan Gunasekara.