Govt mulls Fiji expulsion response

Commodore Frank Bainimarama. File Photo / Greg Bowker

The Government is now considering what action to take in response to Fiji's expulsion of acting New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner Todd Cleaver yesterday.

Interim head of Fiji's government Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama ordered out Mr Cleaver and Australia's High Commissioner James Bartley.

Mr Cleaver was New Zealand's acting head of mission after Fiji previously ousted High Commissioner Michael Green then his successor, acting High Commissioner Caroline McDonald.

Mr McCully said retaliatory action could be taken against Fiji diplomats in Wellington.

"Obviously the question we will consider today is whether we should do that, that's what we did last time," Mr McCully told Radio New Zealand.

"The basis for that is that when steps are taken quite capriciously you need to emphasise that in fact these are gratuitous steps that are being taken (and require) some sort of gesture in return. But we will think about that over the next few hours."

The expulsion made progress with Fiji more difficult.

"This is just another step down a path that makes maintaining civilised relationships a bit difficult but we're used to that at this particular juncture."

The move was disappointing, Mr McCully said, as New Zealand and Australia had been moving to boost their depleted Fiji offices and were supporting Fiji efforts to do the same in their countries.

Last week Mr McCully approved a new counsellor to the Fiji Consulate in Wellington and had indicated then he wanted to lift staff in Suva. Meanwhile, Australia had upgraded the status of Fiji's representative in Canberra to High Commissioner.

"Having been pushing down a path of looking to add people or lift their status in both New Zealand and Australia Fiji have turned around and moved in the opposite direction which is obviously disappointing."

The Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs would reconsider the travel advisory to Fiji.

"The primary effect (of the expulsion) is it's going to make it difficult for us to offer the full range of services at the office in Suva, obviously we are down a number of people and there are some implications for the kind of consular support we can provide and some other services."

Fiji raised the case of delays in the processing of a medical visa for the sick child of a Fijian judge as a reason for the expulsion.

New Zealand and Australia had imposed travel restrictions on the Fijian judiciary, in protest at Fiji being run without a democratically elected government.