Asked if the potential police searches of four media organisations over the recording of his conversation with John Banks were appropriate so close to the General Election, Mr Key said he had " no clue how their operation is going to work''.
"I simply made a statement about what I felt was a potential offence against me and I asked them to deal with that matter, that's what any member of the public can do,'' he said.
"How the police go about their work is a matter for them and it would be hugely inappropriate for a politician to get involved.''
Mr Key, who is visiting Queenstown, Winton and Invercargill today, held a press conference in the Crowne Plaza Queenstown hotel to announce he would take the tourism portfolio again if he returned as prime minister.
He also announced the cap on the number of core state sector employees would be continue to be reduced to about 36,500 if his party was returned to power.
