New Zealand may stop Zimbabwe from touring

New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff said on Thursday the Zimbabwe cricket team could be banned from touring in December.

"Given the current appalling abuses of human rights and the relentless trend of the Zimbabwe government towards a dictatorship, the New Zealand government would not welcome a visit from a side representing Zimbabwe at this time," Goff said in a statement.

"The Zimbabwe cricket team should not anticipate that it will be granted entry to New Zealand."

However, Goff said he had yet to raise the matter at cabinet level and had not sought legal advice from officials.

He also told national radio that the government would not prevent a New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe going ahead in August,

"We're not in a position to stop the team going at all," he said.