KEY POINTS:
Ten Fijian children aged 10 to 13 have been banned from attending a New Zealand jamboree because their families have links to Fiji's military.
About 50 Fijian Scouts and Guides are coming to Christchurch for New Zealand's 18th international jamboree, but 10 of their friends did not apply
for visas because they were told by New Zealand's High Commission in Suva they would be refused entry.
New Zealand Government sanctions ban members of Fiji's military government and their families from entering the country.
The Green Party is questioning the decision because a Fiji Government minister was allowed in a month ago to attend an education conference.
Fiji Scouts Association president Jonetani Kaukimoce said the scouts had been looking forward all year to the trip.
"They're only kids, and they're being nurtured to become good citizens of the planet. It is ridiculous for kids to be treated this way.
"They shouldn't be penalised, they should be treated as kids."
His New Zealand counterparts were unhappy that children were caught up in politics.
"Obviously the scouts in question are caught up in the middle of a political issue that is not of their making and that is terribly unfair," said a Scouting New Zealand spokeswoman.
"We recognise that the ban is a matter between the NZ Government and the Fijian Government and it is they who must resolve it."
Greens foreign affairs spokesman Keith Locke said the Government should use more common sense in applying its ban.
"There's not usually arms training at a jamboree," he said.
He asked why Fijian Education Minister Netani Sukanaivalu was granted a waiver to attend a Pacific education conference in Auckland, and the the scouts were barred.
"Surely the young scouts are much more deserving of consideration than a minister in the military government. It seems small-minded to suggest school children should be held responsible for the actions of their parents."
"I suggest the Government apply a bit more fairness, and in the spirit of Christmas let the children come here and take part in the jamboree."
A spokesman for Foreign Affairs minister Winston Peters defended the application of the ban.
He said there was good reason for letting a Fijian military government minister into New Zealand.
"The Government decided to waive the ban on the basis that the type of work the forum was doing in education across the Pacific was more important than our bilateral issues.
Asked what risk children could pose, the spokesman said the ban had nothing to do with what they might do when they came to New Zealand, but a message had to be sent.
"We warned the Fiji military before the coup, when they were threatening to overthrow the government, that there would be serious ramifications.
"We've put the sanctions in place and we're determined to send them a very clear message that they can't just go ahead and overthrow a democratically elected government."
In October, Fiji soccer team's goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau was denied access for a World Cup qualifier in New Zealand and two netball players were barred from their world championships - which were transferred from Fiji to Auckland after the coup.
