The Government intends to meet the Pike River families' request that the site is turned into a conservation area and a memorial established to the men who died.
Mine owner Solid Energy announced yesterday it will not re-enter the West Coast mine to recover the remains of the 29 men killed in 2010, and has relinquished its mining permit to the Government.
Solid Energy has said a special meeting may be held to discuss whether the mine's drift can be safely re-entered.
The Government said a memorial site would be established
Mr Key said the Government would accommodate a range of requests from the families to ensure the area around the mine was protected as a mark of respect.