The National Party is questioning the consistency of the NZ government's foreign affairs policy, saying it must explain why it is okay for a government-owned engineering company to do contract work in Myanmar.

National Foreign Affairs spokesman, Murray McCully said this work is being done despite ministerial tantrums over Air New Zealand carrying Australian troops to the Iraq war and the sanctions imposed against Fiji's interim government.

McCully told stuff.co.nz that it is hard to reconcile these actions with the decision to allow a wholly taxpayer-owned company to carry out engineering work for the "Butchers of Burma", especially when it is likely that the communications facilities they are constructing will be used as a tool for the continued suppression of the Burmese people.

McCully said the military dictatorship in Burma is one of the most brutal and repressive regimes in the world and the Burmese make Bainimarama look like a junior choir boy.

He stresses that NZ's foreign policy must show fairness and consistency.

However NZ Prime Minister, Helen Clark said the work done by the company in Myanmar would probably help democracy.