New Zealand's foreign minister says she has expressed concern to her Chinese counterpart over maritime disputes in the South China Sea and tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

Nanaia Mahuta wrapped up a four-day visit to Beijing on Saturday.

The trip to China was the first by a New Zealand foreign minister since 2018. It was the latest step in the country's difficult balancing act with its largest trading partner.

In her meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Mahuta noted the resilience of bilateral trade during the pandemic and called for reconnecting people in tourism and business.

But she also raised human rights issues in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. And she warned against supplying weapons to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Both sides underscored their cooperation, while Mahuta emphasized her country's interest in a peaceful and stable Pacific region.

New Zealand maintains close security ties with the US and Australia. Both countries have competed intensely with China in recent years for influence in the Pacific.