The government said it would put a minister in charge of re-entering the Pike River mine and it has done that - former Labour leader Andrew Little has been given the responsibility.

Mr Little is Minister of Justice in Prime Minister-designate Jacinda Ardern's cabinet, which she has just announced.

Re-entering the mine where 29 men died in the 2010 explosions was promised by Labour and NZ First during the election campaign.

The families of the victims have for years campaigned for that to happen, believing there are bodies in the 2.3km drift, the tunnel that leads into the mine.

They also believe there is evidence in the draft of what caused the explosions.

The National-led government refused to send men into the mine, saying owner Solid Energy considered it was too risky.

It instead planned to send remote-controlled robots into the drift later this year.