'You can't kill people because others have died in a tragic accident' - John Key

John Key says they won't risk more lives in order to recover the bodies from the Pike River mine disaster. Photo / Getty Images

Prime Minister John Key says no one in their right mind would risk killing more men to recover bodies from the 2010 Pike River mine disaster which claimed 29 lives.

"We were always going to try the best we could but in the end, I don't think anyone in their right mind would say I should send another 15 men to their peril because some family members want their loved ones removed from the mine.

"Young can't do that. You cant kill other people because others have died in a tragic accident."

He was asked yesterday about promises he made to the families of victims with the imminent release of a documentary on the disaster.

Some family members want the bodies brought out and some don't but it has been deemed too dangerous.

Mr Key told reporters covering Apec in Manila that he did everything he possibly could.

"The practicalities are no Prime Minister in good conscience could sign off on a situation where we put other lives at risk."

The decision in the end was not his; it was made by state-owned energy company Solid Energy - which bought the mine after the disaster - and its experts.

"That hasn't been challenged by a lot of people."

Mr Key said there was video evidence of what he had said to people about getting bodies out.

Asked if he had broken a promise, he said "absolutely not."

"A number of family members have written to me and said 'we absolutely support the view that I did everything I possibly could.'"