Pike River Coal former chairman Peter Whittall is facing 12 criminal charges in relation to the tragedy which resulted in the deaths of 29 men.

He plans to “vigorously” defend the charges.

He has been charged with eight offences of acquiescing or participating in the failures of Pike River Coal as an employer and as a principal and faces four charges of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure no action or inaction of his as an employee harmed another person.

VLI Drilling and Pike River Coal are also being prosecuted over the blast.

The three parties were due to appear in the Greymouth District Court next week but in a statement the DOL said it was no longer the case.

“The judge at the Greymouth District Court has made an order that by mutual consent of all counsel, the cases have been remanded until 5 June 2012,” the DOL said.

The extension was granted to allow more time for the defendants to work through and consider the large volume of material relevant to the case.

The DOL laid a total of 25 charges against the three parties, all relating to alleged health and safety failures at the Pike River mine.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of $NZ250,000.