The Pike River Coal mine should have been closed and all its problems fixed before allowing men underground, says an Australian mine expert giving evidence to the inquiry into the disaster.
The evidence of David Reece revealed more shonky practices at the West Coast mine, which exploded in November, 2010, killing 29 men and trapping their bodies underground.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry in Greymouth had earlier been told the most likely cause of the first explosion was sparks from water pumps when they were turned on after a large amount of methane gas had been liberated. It was also told gas sensors were in a poor state of repair.
On Wednesday, it was revealed cigarettes, cigarette butts, lighters, matches, mobile phones, and cameras were found underground, and on Friday the hearing was told three of the men who died in the explosions had been seen using the fresh air pipe to override the gas detection sensors, 3News reported.
Mr Reece dismissed a suggestion someone opening a can of coke may have sparked an explosion.
There were more serious concerns around items such as a camera or camera batteries, he said.
"We're not discounting contraband at all, and sadly there was too much evidence of contraband in previous times in this mine."
However, Mr Reece said his main concerns would have been the ventilation system and the ability for the men to escape.
With hindsight, he thought he would have stopped production and closed Pike River mine if he had found it in the state it was in.
Mr Reece says he would not have allowed the main ventilation fan to be located where it was underground but even if the ventilation had been beefed up there would have been concern about the amount of methane in the mine.
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