ZIMABWE’S hopes of returning to the Test cricket fold next year continue to rise, after New Zealand were given the green light by their own government to schedule a tour.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan confirmed he has met with Zimbabwe sports minister David Coltart in Christchurch.

Vaughan says they discussed a tour in May 2011 as well as the possibility of other cricketing exchanges, such as the potential for a New Zealand A team to tour Zimbabwe at some stage in the near future.

Mr Coltart also met New Zealand's Minister for Sport and Recreation, Murray McCully, earlier this week, which Vaughn said he was pleased with.

"It is clear from that meeting that our government's position is that they would not oppose the Blackcaps touring Zimbabwe next year," Vaughan says.

"It is important to stress that any tour by New Zealand cricket teams to Zimbabwe would need to be prefaced by full safety and security checks, which are standard practice for New Zealand Cricket."

Coltart, a member of Zimbabwe's transitional inclusive government, said there were no security problems for visiting sportspeople.

Zimbabwe recently hosted the Sri Lankan and Indian cricket teams as well as the Brazilian football team for a warm-up match before the World Cup.