The Warriors and Newcastle Knights will play a charity match in Greymouth to raise funds - and spirits - on the West Coast.

Police hope to cap the vent shaft at Pike River mine tomorrow after weather conditions at the site prevented the operation from going ahead today.

The majority of miners remaining at Pike River Coal mine look set to lose their jobs, as officials today told workers they were going to proceed with redundancies three weeks after a series of explosions killed 29 workers inside the mine.

An operation has begun to extinguish the fire coming from the vent shaft of the Pike River mine and cool the surrounding concrete pad, using water pumped up from a nearby creek.

A Santa parade in Greymouth today brought some much needed cheer to the community.

It could take weeks for a GAG unit to put out a coal fire in the Pike River mine, police say.

The strength of the West Coast community will help it overcome its collective grief over the deaths of the 29 men who died in the Pike River mine tragedy, Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand said today at the memorial service in Greymouth.

A summary of the words spoken by West Coast locals and dignitaries at this afternoon's Pike River memorial service.

John Key today delivered a personal message to the mothers whose children have been left fatherless as a result of the Pike River mine tragedy. His was one of several moving tributes at today's Remembrance Service.

"Our lives changed forever" when the Pike River Mine exploded, the mining company chief executive told mourners today.

Several thousand people have filled Greymouth’s Omoto Racecourse and numerous MPs and city mayors have taken their seats on the main stage for the Pike River Official Remembrance service

A GAG unit at the Pike River mine appears to be working with early indications a fire is dissipating.

Much of NZ will come to a standstill today as the victims of the Pike River tragedy are remembered.

2010 can only described as an annus calamitosus [disastrous year] for the New Zealand family.

A jet engine brought in to make the Pike River mine safe is now in place. Rescue services are hopeful it will be in use tonight so the process to recover the remains of the 29 trapped miners can begin.

An Australian-based online mining journal today called for NZ police to be blocked from controlling mine rescues.

Prime Minister John Key has asked all New Zealanders to observe two minutes’ silence at 2pm tomorrow to remember the 29 men who lost their lives as the Pike River Official Remembrance Service begins in Greymouth.