Wellington, Feb 16 NZPA - Labour has called for more action from the Government to resolve the conflict between Japanese whalers and the New Zealand environmentalists scrapping with them.

In the latest Southern Ocean stoush yesterday, New Zealander Peter Bethune, part of the Sea Shepherd protest group, boarded the whaling ship Shonan Maru and tried to make a citizen's arrest on the captain.

As well as trying to arrest the captain over the collision, Mr Bethune reportedly handed him a bill for the cost of replacing his boat.

He was detained by the ship's crew and may end up staying on board and facing the Japanese judiciary when the ship returns to its base.

Mr Bethune's high-tech speedboat Ady Gil, which had been part of efforts to harass Japanese whalers, sank following a collision with the Shonan Maru on January 6.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully said today he had met Japan's ambassador and told him New Zealand wanted to offer consulate assistance to Mr Bethune, and was confident efforts would be made to ensure that happened,

He said he wasn't going to discuss the logic behind Mr Bethune's actions, or how Japanese authorities were likely to deal with him, but suggested Mr Bethune would have been fully aware of the outcome.

"I think he is being detained precisely in accordance with his own wishes. My understanding is that he went on board to make a point, knowing that there would be some consequences that flowed from it, and that he is not only not seeking to be removed, but is refusing to be removed at this stage..."

Prime Minister John Key said while Mr Bethune felt strongly about the cause, his actions had presented significant risks.

"I think there has got to be a better way through this and would prefer that calm heads prevail," he said.

Labour's foreign affairs spokesman Chris Carter was critical today of Mr McCully's and Mr Key's response to the issue, saying they appeared to be washing their hands over Mr Bethune's fate.

"Whether you agree with the radical actions of the Sea Shepherd group or not, nevertheless the New Zealand Government has an obligation to protect the lives and property of New Zealanders and look after their welfare," Mr Carter said.

He said the Government was remaining silent over the Japanese whaling programme in the Southern Ocean, which was an "embarrassing backdown from New Zealand's proud record of marine mammal protection".

NZPA PAR co gt