New Zealand diplomats are seeking assurance from Russian authorities that athletes and supporters won't be harrassed at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Russia has recently passed a law imposing heavy fines for providing information about homosexuality to young people - sparking calls to boycott the Games in Sochi.
The new anti-gay legislation has raised concerns that homosexual athletes or tourists could face discrimination.
Murray McCully. Photo: RNZ
British actor Stephen Fry is leading calls for a boycott and British Prime Minister David Cameron has called for the Games to be held elsewhere.
In New Zealand, the Green Party wants the Government to demand a boycott unless Russia repeals the laws.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said on Friday the safety of New Zealanders travelling abroad is of the utmost importance and the Government would continue to call on Russia to uphold human rights.
New Zealand speed skater Blake Skejellerup, who is gay, believes a boycott would be ineffective, send the wrong message and deny athletes who have worked hard to get to the Olympics an opportunity to compete.
Skejellerup says he would rather show his solidarity with Russia's homosexual community: "I'm proud of who I am and I'm not going to go back into the closet in Russia."
The organiser of a Wellington protest against Russia's anti-homosexuality laws also believes that a boycott wouldn't work.
Sarah Fraser, of the group Queer Avengers, says it wouldn't change the Kremlin's mind and she would rather see athletes showing solidarity with Russia's homosexual community while the world is watching, even though it's illegal to promote homosexual activities there.
"If all of them were to show solidarity I guess it would be pretty hard for anybody to take action against, I don't know, 400 or 500 people - even more than that - all at one go. That would send a really bad message to the rest of the world."
Skjellerup says having the Games in Russia will draw attention to the new laws and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movements there.
