KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister John Key has given a clear signal that he is prepared to order the Black Caps not to tour Zimbabwe.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive Justin Vaughan said yesterday he was seeking clarification of the Government's stance on the mid-year visit.
Three one-day internationals are scheduled in the strife-torn nation in July, under the International Cricket Council's (ICC) future tours programme.
The only way the NZC can avoid heavy ICC sanctions is if Mr Key ordered the national team not to tour, as former Australian leader John Howard did in 2007.
Mr Key said today the Cabinet had not considered the issue.
"We'll need to look at that but I'd be deeply sceptical about whether they will be going," he said.
"We don't support that regime, we don't support what's happening in that country and we don't want to give a signal that we do."
Vaughan said on Saturday he would seek a meeting with Murray McCully, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Sport and Recreation, within the next month.
"We're still assessing the situation and obviously there are numerous threads there," Vaughan said.
"We'll be looking to understand the Government's position first and foremost, also the ICC task force are reporting back on Zimbabwe to the ICC conference (in June).
"There's a lot of information we need to get before we can make a decision on that."
New Zealand last toured Zimbabwe in 2005, for two tests and a one-day tri-series including India, after then prime minister Helen Clark strongly urged NZC not to go but stopped short of ordering the team to stay home.
Vaughan said he didn't know whether the new National government would take a different stance.
"That (a government ban) would certainly take any decision away from me," he said.
- NZPA
