New Zealand to protest over nuclear shipment
New Zealand will lodge formal protests with Britain, Japan and France over a shipment of nuclear fuel.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Phil Goff says the ships are due to pass near its territorial waters.
Two British ships are bound for Japan with a shipment of mixed uranium and plutonium oxide fuel (MOX).
"The chance of an accident at sea, while small, cannot be discounted," Mr Goff said.
The British-flagged ship Pacific Pintail, accompanied by the Pacific Teal, left Cherbourg in France on Friday bound for Japan with a load of the fuel The voyage is expected to take about two months.
It was not immediately clear exactly when the ships, owned by British company Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited, would pass through the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand.
"There is also a security risk in the sense that it is technically possible, although very difficult, to use MOX in the construction of nuclear weapons," Goff said in a statement.
The ships would travel via South Africa's Cape of Good Hope before passing New Zealand, British Nuclear Fuels spokesman Mark Scott said.
British Nuclear Fuels spokesman Mark Scott says the ships did not intend to pass through New Zealand's territorial waters.
Tasman Sea Nuclear Free flotilla spokesman Tony Atkinson said at least six Australian and New Zealand yachts would leave from various ports on February 15 to protest at the ships' "evil cargo".
