The inquiry into the Pike River mine tragedy which left 29 men dead will sit for its final hearings at the Greymouth District Court on April 2 and will run through to April 4.

The three days have been set aside so the commission can hear 37 final submissions from participants examining the factual and policy aspects being addressed by the commission.

While no witnesses have been called, representatives of 15 participants will have the opportunity to highlight aspects of their submissions, while also having the opportunity to respond to the views of others.

Participants include representatives of the former mine manager Neville Rockhouse, New Zealand police and the families of the Pike victims.

Once the final hearings are complete, the commission will continue its work examining matters relating to phase 4, dubbed policy aspects, and considering the issues raised in its terms of reference.

Phase 4 is the last phase of the inquiry and will determine whether extra regulation is needed in the New Zealand mining industry and examine the profile of an effective mining inspectorate.

The need to improve the country’s mining regulation system follows the accumulation of evidence presented at the third phase of the inquiry into the disaster, which revealed damning evidence into embattled company Pike River Coal’s failed safety system.

Phase 3 of the inquiry spanned three months and sought to determine the likely causes of the explosion.

Phase 3 heard that the deadly explosion at Pike River was more than likely caused by a significant roof collapse in the goaf of the mine, causing an accumulation of methane to come into contact with an ignition source.

It followed on from phase 2 of the inquiry into the disaster which wrapped up on September 23 last year and revealed major flaws in the search and recovery effort at the mine.

The reporting date for the Royal Commission on the Pike River explosion has been set for September 28.