The New Zealand government on Monday condemned the resumption of Japan's so-called "scientific" whaling in the Southern Ocean.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said the Japanese fleet had appeared to have begun whaling for the current season.

"The practice of whaling in the oceans south of New Zealand is pointless and offensive to a great many New Zealanders," McCully said in a statement.

"The New Zealand government has repeatedly called on Japan to end its whaling program. We reiterate this message today."

New Zealand had formally lodged an intervention before the International Court of Justice in the case brought by Australia against Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean, and the case was still before the court.

However, McCully said reports Monday by the Sea Shepherd conservation group that whaling occurred in New Zealand sovereign waters were factually wrong.

"New Zealand has responsibility for coordinating search and rescue operations in a large area in the Southern Ocean. However, these are international waters and not within New Zealand's maritime jurisdiction." Endi

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