Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson is adamant that a move to boost mine inspection resources has nothing to do with the tragedy at Pike River.
A new inspectorate called the high hazard unit will increase the number of inspectors covering both the mining and petroleum industries from three to eight.
Twenty nine men died in the Pike River coal mine on 19 November last year. A Royal Commission of Inquiry is being held.
The Government says a departmental review recommended more inspectors and it has responded to that.
Ms Wilkinson told Morning Report the unit is the result of a completely separate and independent review, and it is important not to prejudge the Royal Commission's findings.
However, Opposition parties say the decision has come too late and still leaves men at risk in underground mines.
Green MP Kevin Hague (West Coast) says the failures of the system have become evident and more needs to done.
Mine safety expert Dave Feickert says he hopes mine check inspectors will be reinstated.
He says mine safety standards have been left floundering after more than a decade of self-regulation.
The Government says it will await the Royal Commission report, which is likely to result in more changes.
Union comment
The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union says a new unit set up to monitor mine safety will make mining safer.
However, assistant national secretary Jed O'Connell says there may be difficulties in attracting people to fill those positions, given New Zealand's poor pay rate for the job.
Former Pike River mine safety and training manager Neville Rockhouse says the announcement of a new unit to monitor mine safety has come too late.
Mr Rockhouse, whose son died in the disaster, says the unit should have been set up years ago.
He believes the main reason such a unit was not set up earlier was cost- cutting.
