Labour says humpback whales that are part of the Ngai Tahu whale-watching operation at Kaikoura, could be killed by Japanese whalers this summer.
Maori Development spokesperson Nanaia Mahuta says the Japanese have said they plan to kill 50 humpback whales, 50 fin whales and 935 minke whales as part of their programme.
Ms Mahuta says the whales are now migrating into the Great Southern Ocean to feed.
That is a zone to which Japan has whaling access.
She says the issue concerns all Pacific whale-tourism ventures.