Pike River inquiry set to end this week

Grey District's Mayor says there's a sense of relief that hearings for the Pike River Royal Commission of Inquiry will end this week.

The last public hearings into the deaths of 29 men at Pike River begin in Greymouth this morning.

Final submissions will be given by 12 lawyers over the next two and a half days, representing 15 key participants.

Tony Kokshoorn says it's been a long and emotional journey for the West Coast.

"There's a relief down here it's been going for a long time. November 2010 is a long time ago now but it's still on the minds of everybody and we all want to know what happened."

The commissioners are due to report their findings to the Governor-General by September 28.

The union representing miners wants clarification on the Department of Labour's stance on worker-appointed inspectors.

The department has come up with a plan to boost safety in underground mines, based on the internationally recognised three pillars of support.

EPMU assistant national secretary Ged O'Connell says the three-legged stool should include worker-elected health and safety inspectors.

He says the Department of Labour's release acknowledges and accepts that.

"Their submissions don't say that, their submissions say they want the employer to appoint the employee reps."

Mr O'Connell says there needs to be some clarification on that.