A robot that could find clues to what caused the deadly explosions at the Pike River mine is expected to enter the site next week.
Twenty-nine men were killed after explosions at the West Coast mine beginnig on 19 November last year.
In late January, the police decided it was too dangerous to continue trying to recover the men's bodies.
Operational commander Paul Carpenter says it is still impossible for anyone to enter the mine but a robot equipped with a camera should finally get inside next week.
He says it could help assess the condition of the mine, although it is not known how far it will be able to get.
