The Prime Minister's office is indicating it may have got its timing wrong over when it was told by Labour of the Mike Sabin scandal.

Labour's released phone records to back its claim they told the Prime Minister's office about the matter in late November.

National's said the call was made on December the 3rd.

But the Prime Minister's office says Mr Key's chief of staff Wayne Eagleson is now prepared to accept the conversation happened a week earlier.

However, a spokesperson says the timing is immaterial as Mr Eagleson had been made aware of the Sabin matter prior to receiving the call from the Labour Party's chief of staff.

They say Mr Key was told of the matter on December the 1st.