Labour leader Andrew Little yesterday stepped up his criticism of Mr Key for his handling of the matter, saying Mr Sabin had chaired a meeting of the law and order select committee just two days after Mr Key claimed he was told Mr Sabin had issues to deal with in December last year.
Mr Little said that showed a "cavalier attitude" towards Parliament given the law and order committee is charged with oversight of the police.
Mr Key said he had made a judgment call based on the information he had at the time and still believed it was the right decision.
"I accept it was a judgment call, some people might criticise me for that. Things ... did progress and things did change. But on the information I had on December 1 I was happy with the decision I made."
He refused to say what information he had or whether his decision was influenced by assurances Mr Sabin had given about his situation. He said his chief of staff, Wayne Eagleson, had spoken to "a number of sources".
Mr Key's office has previously confirmed Mr Sabin told Mr Eagleson directly a day or two before Labour informed Mr Eagleson.
Mr Little said allowing Mr Sabin to chair the select committee while under investigation was a major conflict of interest.
Candidates:
* Labour's 2014 candidate Willow Jean Prime will contest the Northland seat again.
* Maungatoroto dairy farmer Grant McCallum, 50, says he will seek selection for National. He is considered the front runner.
* Others contesting it for National include Northland Federated Farmers' president Roger Ludbrook, farmer and private investigator Matt King and engineering company owner Ken Rintoul.
- Claire Trevett of the New Zealand Herald
