Fears for NZ families holidaying in Fiji

Hundreds of New Zealand families are flying to Fiji with their children for the school holidays, sparking fears for their safety as the island nation's volatile politics continue to heat up.

Yesterday, the military strongman Commodore Frank Bainimarama was again appointed Prime Minister, the day after the President sacked the judiciary and revoked the constitution.

Suva remained relatively calm last night with few guns visible on the streets, though emergency regulations are in place giving the police and military special powers.

Bainimarama has imposed a 30-day state of emergency, limiting freedom of speech, expanding police powers and curbing media reporting in the country of 800,000 people.

Yesterday evening, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully condemned Bainimarama's swearing in as a "sham" that took Fiji down an even darker path to potential tragedy.

"The extent to which the Commodore seems prepared to go to entrench himself and the military in power is unsettling," he said.

"Abrogating the constitution, dismissing judges and now introducing emergency measures that curb the media and deny citizens freedom of political expression is a sorry recipe that has been tried by dictators in a number of other countries, always with tragic consequences."

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade [MFAT] has upgraded its warning to travellers. "There is some risk to your security in Fiji and we advise caution," it says.

Fiji has suffered four coups and a bloody military mutiny since 1987, mainly as a result of tensions between the majority indigenous Fijian population and the economically powerful ethnic Indian minority.

The fresh turmoil hit the island nation on Thursday, as New Zealand schools closed for two weeks of holidays. It is usually a busy time for travel agents, with families heading to Fiji, and they said there was no sign of people being cautious and pulling out of their holidays.

Brent Thomas, from House of Travel, said trouble in the country had not hit sales, but the company was monitoring the situation.

"MFAT has raised the warning a notch but not to a level that stops travel. Our only worry is with school holidays on there will be lots of people over there should this escalate."

Marie Pilkington from the Flight Centre said the company would work with clients if they decided to change their destinations.

"We will work with airlines and the clients to help people that want to rebook or reroute their holidays," she said. "If people are feeling worried I recommend they contact their consultant and discuss options with them."

Fiji's President Ratu Josefa Iloilo has said he will appoint an interim government and delay elections for five years.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon expressed his "deep dismay".

Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, condemning the "unwelcome developments", called a meeting of the international organisation's ministerial action group.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AGENCIES