Steven Smith

Wellington, May 31 NZPA - Peter Bethune isn't Australia's problem, says Foreign Minister Steven Smith.

Mr Smith was in Auckland today for a Pacific Island Forum meeting while Mr Bethune was defending himself in a Japanese court.

Anti-whaling activists have called on Australia to support him, but Mr Smith made it clear that wasn't going to happen.

"There is no direct interest as far as Australia is concerned," he told reporters.

"He is a New Zealand citizen.

"We weren't one of the flagships in respect of which the incident occurred, nor did it occur in Australian waters."

Mr Smith said the Australian government was conscious of the need for safety at sea and had made strong remarks in that respect but Mr Bethune's plight was a matter for New Zealand.