The anti-whaling vessel at the centre of a diplomatic row may be heading to Dunedin to refuel.
The Dutch-registered Steve Irwin MV has pursued the Japanese whaling fleet for more than 3000km on the Antarctic high seas and is now heading to the nearest possible port to refuel.
A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, James Funnell, said the vessel was believed to be heading towards Dunedin or Hobart from its position in the Ross Sea.
"We are watching their movement but at this point it is not clear whether they are heading to a port in Australia or New Zealand," he said.
The Government would not comment on a call by the Japan Whaling Association (JWA) president, Keiichi Nakajima, to close ports in New Zealand and Australia to the vessel, until its port of call has been confirmed, Mr Funnell said.
In November, Mr McCully urged the parties to show restraint during whaling activities in Antarctic waters this summer.
"We're urging all parties to refrain from any actions that may put their lives, or the lives of others at risk."
Mr McCully said New Zealand remained firmly opposed to the Japanese whaling programme and "we are actively engaged in a diplomatic process, including the International Whaling Commission, to try and find a resolution to the problem".
Yesterday, Mr Nakajima of the JWA, said any request for port entry from Steve Irwin should be rejected by Australian and New Zealand authorities.
"Otherwise, these countries will be complicit in any further attacks," he said.
Captain Paul Watson said in a statement aboard the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel the organisation was temporarily ending its pursuit of the whaling fleet to refuel before rejoining the chase.
"We have engaged them, we have stopped their whaling activities for two weeks and we have successfully chased them out of the Australian Antarctic territorial waters," he said.
JWA spokesman, Glenn Inwood of Wellington, said the Japanese whaling fleet had done nothing illegal, but the same could not be said for Steve Irwin, which should not be welcomed to New Zealand.
"I think they will find more of a safe haven in an Australian port."
A Port Otago spokesman confirmed no request had yet been made from the vessel Dunedin woman Olive McRae, who has volunteered to collect supplies for the crew, said Steve Irwin was originally scheduled to arrive in Dunedin last month and "they are still planning on coming here".
The vessel and its international volunteer crew of 48, including actress and environmentalist Daryl Hannah for the first two days, left Brisbane last month with the aim of intercepting the fleet in the Ross Sea, Ms McRae said.
If Steve Irwin came to Dunedin, tours of the vessel might be possible, she said"I hope Dunedin people would come along and give them a warm welcome."
