Dozens of academics and human rights activists are urging the government to avoid sending troops to a naval exercise in the US amid fears of Covid-19 spreading.

Photo: SUPPLIED / US NAVY

The Rim of the Pacific exercise - or Rimpac, the world's largest maritime war event - is scheduled for Hawaii in June.

In 2018 New Zealand sent 300 personnel.

Peace Action Wellington has sent a letter to the Prime Minister saying the risk of infection spreading to New Zealand's participants was too high.

One signatory is Hawaiian state senator Amy Perruso, who said New Zealand should continue to act responsibly in preventing the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus .