Foreign Minister Murray McCully will chair the potentially emotional debate on a resolution in Malaysia's name.
It seeks to establish an international tribunal to investigate the shooting which killed all 298 passengers and crew on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur a year ago and to bring to justice those responsible.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and counterparts from the Ukraine, the Netherlands and Malaysia will be personally attending the debate to speak in support.
The death toll included 193 Dutch citizens, 43 from Malaysia, 28 from Australia, 12 from Indonesia and 10 from Britain.
A New Zealand resident, Robert Ayley, from Otaki was killed as was a New Zealander, Mary Menke, who had been living in Australia with her Dutch husband.
The airliner is thought to have been shot down by Russian backed militia in the Ukraine, but Russia blamed the Ukranian Government.
Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin has made it clear that unless the motion is amended to something less hardline, Russia will exercise its veto if more than nine of the 15 Security Council members support it.
He called the motion as "attempt to create another hotbed of confrontation here that could have very far-reaching consequences for international relations."
Russia's position is that the downing of MH17 was a criminal offence and did not fall within the orbit of international peace and security issues that the council dealt with. It wants the Dutch Safety Board to finish its report on the crash before any consideration of a tribunal.
It proposed an alternative resolution which sought to "broaden and deepen international co-operation in the investigation" and to get the UN Secretary General involved. But that was not acceptable.
The debate will be one of the last during New Zealand's month of presidency.
Mr McCully said it was usual for foreign ministers to chair the council when a lot of foreign ministers were present.
He said he had had a "frank but constructive discussion" with Russia to see if there was ground that could be bridged between the parties.
"We fully respect the fact that the Malaysia, Netherlands and Australian Governments are making their own decisions about the sort of resolution they require to go before the council.
"They have grieving families to account to."
He was satisfied New Zealand had done all it could to explore other avenues.
New Zealand's national vote will be in favour of the motion.
By Audrey Young of the New Zealand Herald in New York
