The Labour Party says human rights are important but is signalling it would support a trade deal with Saudi Arabia.

The Prime Minister is visiting the gulf states at the moment and is trying to secure trade deal.

Labour Party Deputy Leader Annette King says New Zealand has made many trade deals with countries it doesn't agree with in terms of human rights, so it's not the only factor looked at.

"We look at the advantages of New Zealand in trade, but we do raise the human rights issue.

"If we didn't trade with countries because we didn't like their human rights, we wouldn't have many countries that we would be trading with."