George Colligan, a contractor who trained staff at the mine for nearly a year, told Radio New Zealand he did nothing wrong but believed that Pike lawyers would seek to put blame on him.

He noted one-man operators were “easily boxed into a corner”, and has reportedly hired defence lawyer Greg King to represent him and four colleagues.

Rockhouse told the radio station’s Morning Report program that the only way to find the cause of the disaster was to go back into the mine and investigate.

"To get to the truth, some reputations may need to be tarnished,” he said on air.

“I'm quite prepared to go through that process."

Rockhouse is the father of Ben, who died in the mine. Another son, Daniel, survived the first explosion on November 19, and helped electrician Russell Smith escape.

Royal Commission hearings are scheduled to begin again in July.

Discussions on recovering bodies

Pike receiver John Fisk said a meeting with key stakeholders would be held on May 23 in Christchurch, according to the Southland Times.

Receivers, mines rescue specialists, representatives of the victims’ families, police and other technical experts will reportedly attend.

Fisk reportedly said the meeting was requested by families and would provide an opportunity to explain the issues with re-entering the mine.

Pike receiver Pricewaterhouse Coopers has recently been distancing itself from the possibility that the bodies could be recovered.

Further investigation is underway to determine the seriousness of a significant roof fall at the end of the access tunnel about 2.3 kilometres into the mine.

“If there is a significant roof fall there then we will need to put a permanent seal at the end of the tunnel,” Fisk previously told ILN.

He acknowledged such a necessity would make it difficult for the families in terms of any possible body recovery exercise.