They are between a rock and a hard place NZ foreign minister Phil Goff

The decision to tour was confirmed by chief executive Martin Snedden despite government calls to cancel because of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

If they had acceded to the request, they could have faced a �1.1m fine from the International Cricket Council.

"It's a fact of life - we have no choice. We have to proceed with this tour," Snedden commented.

"We're involved in a contractual arrangement with nine other Test-playing countries.

"As part of that arrangement we have promised to undertake certain obligations and one of those obligations is that the Black Caps tour Zimbabwe in August this year.

"It's also clear that if we choose, without justification within the terms of that agreement, that we won't tour, then we expose ourselves to very heavy penalties and other consequences that flow from that."

Under ICC regulations, teams face financial penalties if they pull out of tours for anything other than safety reasons.

Foreign Minister Phil Goff, who has threatened to refuse visas for Zimbabwe's players when they make a reciprocal tour later in the year, said he understood Snedden's position.

But he ruled out any compensation payment from the government if the board complied with their wishes.

"He simply can't bankrupt their organisation and I'm sure he appreciates that the New Zealand government is scarcely going to pay tens of millions of dollars to Zimbabwe for the privilege of not touring their country," he said.

Snedden warned, however, that if the government prevented Zimbabwe from touring, it could have dire effect on the game in New Zealand in the short term and their hopes of co-hosting the 2011 World Cup with Australia.

"The revenues we would generate from the Zimbabwean tour of New Zealand in December this year and January next year would be about NZ $3m.

"A decision to withdraw the visas of the Zimbabwean team would inevitably undermine New Zealand Cricket's ability to be a co or joint host of that tournament," he said.

The government is also pressing the ICC to suspend Zimbabwe from international cricket.

But South Africa have already made it clear they will oppose any such move.

Earlier this week, United Cricket Board chief Gerald Majola said they were committed to developing the game in Africa.

"This includes assisting in the progress of Zimbabwean cricket. We will continue on this path," he added.