The receiver for Pike River Coal says it is unlikely the remains of 29 men killed in the New Zealand mine disaster last year will ever be recovered.

Work will continue for between five and eight weeks to stabilise the gases in the site but there is no guarantee on the future of the mine.

Police last week said they were pulling out of the recovery operation and handing control of the mine back to the company and its receivers, a move that angered relatives of the deceased.

But documents released by the police show that a panel of mining experts advised that even a stable mine would not be safe enough to allow for a full recovery operation.

After the police announcement, prime minister John Key said the mine was too unsafe to enter and was likely to be sealed, but that a final decision rests with the receivers.

Today the receivers delivered their plans for the mine to the police, who briefed relatives at Greymouth.

Some of the relatives had been expecting an announcement the mine would be sealed.

Spokesman Bernie Monk had previously said the families would explore legal action to prevent that from happening.

He says it is important to get inside the mine, not just to recover any remains but to gather evidence for the coronial inquiry and royal commission.