Court action under TPP 'inconceivable', says Groser

Tim Groser says New Zealand is not at risk of being sued by corporations. Photo / AP

It is "almost inconceivable" that anyone would take court action against New Zealand under the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Trade Minister Tim Groser says.

Mr Groser told TVNZ's Q+A programme this morning that he didn't think New Zealand was at risk of being sued by corporations if the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) became law.

"I think that is almost inconceivable, given the safe cards our international lawyers have negotiated, that anyone will take a case against New Zealand in the next X years," he said.

Working out the final text of the TPP was a "Herculean task" he said, and New Zealanders might have to wait a while before they can see the fine print on the trade deal.

Labour leader Andrew Little told Q+A that the party was opposed to the deal.

"We are opposed to what we see at the moment but we're taking a reasonable and measured approach, there's a lot of complexity to it," Mr Little said.

Professor Jane Kelsey said the secrecy around the TPP was "farcical".

"He should publish the text now or stop peddling his version until the text does become available," she said.