They said they would be hammering home to the Prime Minister their belief that the crippled mine is ready for re-entry to eventually retrieve the remains of the 29 men, and that the Government had a duty to help with that.
Carol Rose, whose coal mining son Stuart Mudge was among the victims, said before the meeting that she would be pressing Mr Key to get things moving along.
"The statutory manager, Steve Ellis, is the only person stopping Mines Rescue from entering the mine and we want Mr Key to press him, to get a team inside the mine as soon as possible,'' Mrs Rose said.
"We would also like John Key to put some pressure on the receivers to get this walk-in happening.''
Pike River Coal Ltd has yet to develop any plan to retrieve the bodies, but Mines Rescue said this week it believed the mine was safe enough for its specialist team to enter. However, that plan had been blocked by Mr Ellis, who told the inquiry he doubted it was safe.
Greymouth lawyer Colin Smith, acting for the families, said Mines Rescue had assessed the risks.
"They have told us the risks are manageable and ultimately they can enter the mine to undertake a reconnaissance walk.
"We want to move forward and we want Mr Key to help us do that.''
The Prime Minister had repeatedly said he would support a re-entry when a feasible recovery plan was presented.
"We have one. Now we want his support _ it is feasible and backed by Mines Rescue,'' Mr Smith said.
"The families are frustrated with the slowness of the recovery and the blocks that were being put on the recovery.
"There is a seeming lack of urgency.''
At least 40 family members were expected to attend the meeting, to be held at the Hannan and Seddon law offices in Greymouth today.
