NZ to oppose India's nuclear deal

New Zealand is set to oppose a nuclear agreement between India and the United States which could potentially create a diplomatic problem with Delhi.

Speaking to reporters today Prime Minister Helen Clark said that New Zealand, as a nuclear free state, was concerned about the deal.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has invested his political future in a treaty with the US where Washington will supply India with civilian nuclear fuel and technology.

He narrowly survived a confidence vote last month to push through the deal on his side.

New Zealand sits on a key international nuclear body, the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and with a small group of nations will on Thursday determine whether India can sign the deal with the US.

New Zealand refuses to accept the deal saying India cannot have it because it has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

India wants a waiver from the rule.

An international diplomatic offensive led by India and the United States has targeted New Zealand, Austria and Switzerland over their opposition.

Miss Clark said New Zealand was working with "like minded" countries.

New Zealand would attend the NSG and listen carefully to the other countries.

"It would be no secret that we would like to see more conditionalities around the agreement," she said.

"We are pursing this diplomatically."

- © Fairfax NZ News