The Prime Minister says the possibility of a common grave for some of the victims of the Christchurch earthquake will be distressing for their families.
The Chief Coroner has said that it's possible that those victims who can't be identified will be buried in an Erebus-style grave.
Five weeks on from the 22 February quake, the bodies of 12 of the 181 people believed to have died in it have still not been formally identified.
There may also be a joint inquest for those unidentified victims.
Mr Key acknowledges a common grave would be upsetting for the families.
He says part of dealing with such a loss is being able to bury loved ones, and he understands that not being able to do so will cause families further distress.
"My heart goes out to those families if that ends up being the case," Mr Key says, "because they know that doesn't give them the closure that people want, and it's an added blow on what is a tremendous loss that they've already suffered."
