The Government is urging the parties involved in the Syrian airstrikes to return to the negotiating table, calling the UN the best place to seek a resolution.

Jacinda Ardern says the Government accepts why the US, the UK and France sent missiles to Syria over failed United Nations discussions.

But she stopped short of explicitly supporting them.

Russia and China vetoed a measure in February which would have imposed sanctions on Syria for past chemical weapon attacks.

Each of the five permanent Security Council members has veto power to kill any proposal put before them.

Ardern she says it's time to go back to the United Nations and try again.

"We've always condemned the use of the veto because that often prevents us from being able to take a unified position. We should not give up on the U.N being the way to achieve that."