Those who participate must be prepared to either provide written evidence to the Royal Commission Inquiry, or to appear and be heard at the hearings in New Zealand.

The commission seeks any statement, document, information or “matter relevant” to the inquiry’s terms of reference.

Those terms include the cause of the series of explosions since November 19 and the cause of the subsequent loss of life.

The inquiry will also delve into the practices in place at the mine before the mining disaster.

The search, rescue and recovery operations both undertaken and “contemplated” after the event will be investigated, which will also cover the resources available, practices used and preparedness for those operations.

New Zealand’s legislation for underground coal mining will be scrutinised and is likely to be overhauled after the inquiry.

Two of 29 men killed in the tragedy were Australians, and the commission is also interested in expressions of interest from people who were, or may have been, affected by the disaster.

Australian coal industry organisations are also invited to participate in the inquiry.

A form to submit an expression of interest is available by emailing info@royalcommission.govt.nz

But written expressions of interest can also be mailed to:

Executive Director

Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy

PO Box 5846

Lambton Quay

Wellington 6145

New Zealand

Expressions of interest must be received by April 1.

Queensland Mine Safety and Health Commissioner Stewart Bell has been appointed as one of three commissioners.