Zimbabwe a no-go area for teams but Fiji fine - Govt

John Key. Photo / Martin Sykes

The Government does not want the Black Caps touring Zimbabwe, but has no problem with the Junior All Blacks heading to Fiji.

The team will play three games in Fiji this month when Commodore Frank Bainimarama's military regime hosts the Pacific Cup - for which the International Rugby Board is providing $1.54 million in funding.

Asked why there was an apparent double-standard, Prime Minister John Key said: "That's a very good question".

He said New Zealand had reduced its sporting contacts with Fiji since the 2006 coup, but never completely stopped "and on that basis we'll continue to play sport against them".

This year, Mr Key said he was prepared to order the Black Caps not to tour Zimbabwe for safety reasons but they should also boycott on moral grounds

"We don't support that regime. We don't support what is happening in that country and we don't want to give a signal that we do," Mr Key said.

The tour was set for July but postponed for a year after Mr Key's comments.

Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai this week called for the Black Caps to come, telling 60 Minutes there was no longer any need for concern.