A lawyer for the families of Pike River victims says everyone involved in the mine played a role in the disaster and ignoring the methane danger became central to the mine's culture.
A Royal Commission report released on Monday found that repeated warnings of methane in the West Coast mine were ignored in the months before the fatal explosions that began on 19 November 2010 and killed 29 men. Two survived the initial blast and managed to get out of the mine.
The report also found safety devices on mining machinery were bypassed by miners so work could continue regardless of methane levels - a practice the commission describes as reckless.
Nicholas Davidson, QC, told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme on Tuesday that ignoring the methane danger became central to the mine's culture.
He said unanswered questions remain, including why so many managers came and went in the months before the explosions.
The Royal Commission found that in the 48 days before the explosions, there were 21 reports of methane gas levels reaching explosive levels. The reports continued up to the very morning of the first explosion but were never acted on.
An international methane gas expert says he is horrified that management ignored the explosively high methane levels in the mine which led to the disaster.
David Creedy, who is working with the families on the feasibility of re-entering the mine to retrieve the bodies, says he can't believe that the warnings were disregarded.
Mr Creedy told Radio New Zealand's Nine to Noon programme that Pike River management took shortcuts which would have been picked up by a separate mining inspectorate, and that one is needed to keep mines operating honestly and to the law.
Total overhaul needed - expert
A British mining expert says the Pike River disaster shows New Zealand's coal industry has to be totally overhauled.
The Royal Commission's report has recommended sweeping changes, including a new health and safety agency and union inspectors.
Bob Stevenson, a former principal mines inspector in Britain, said the commission has shown that the industry has to be fixed from the top.
He said New Zealand dismantled its professional organisation of qualified mining inspectors in the 1990s and that will take time to rebuild.
David Feickert, a former mine safety adviser to the Chinese government, said it is critical that any regulatory agency introduced to monitor mining must resist commercial pressures and maintain its autonomy.
The Council of Trade Unions says criminal charges need to be laid against the directors and senior management of Pike River Coal in light of the report.
President Helen Kelly said the directors and management ignored many warning signs and should have known that an explosion was highly likely.
