KEY POINTS:
Two Fijian netball players who withdrew their visa applications to New Zealand would have been refused entry even if they had tried to push them through - because of their family connections with the military.
The Fijian team arrived in Auckland yesterday without original squad member Aliti Vakalala-Seru,
whose application was withdrawn. Another potential squad member withdrew before filing an application.
It is understood Vakalala-Seru's husband is in the military.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said the players' military connections fell under the visa ban and praised Netball Fiji for not causing any fuss by trying to push them through.
"For the two individuals, they are paying the price for their families' involvement with the military, but that's been the case since we set up the sanctions."
Helen Clark said the netballers had handled the situation better than the Fiji soccer team, whose match in New Zealand was cancelled last month after keeper Simione Tamanisau had his visa application declined.
The sanctions against Fiji allow sports people to come to New Zealand for an international event, but not if they are members of the military or immediate family members of military personnel.
Helen Clark said at present there were no plans to review the sanctions, which was last considered when then-New Zealand High Commissioner Michael Green was declared persona non-grata and left Fiji in June.
Kereyn Smith, vice-president of the International Federation of Netball Associations, said the Government's stance on Fijian participation in the tournament was well known.
"It was flagged very early that we would have to apply for an exemption and each of the individuals coming into the country would be considered on their merits," she said.
"Late last week one of the Fijian players was advised that they would not meet the requirements for entry into New Zealand."
Ms Smith said she understood the Fijian Netball Association was well aware of the Government's rules that if any of the players had direct connection with the military they would not be allowed in.
Netball Fiji president Alisi Tabete wouldn't discuss details of the withdrawal yesterday, including who made the decision for Vakalala-Seru to stay behind. "We've accepted the position of the authorities and we're here to participate."
Ms Tabete said the team were in high spirits and hadn't been troubled by the political instability in Fiji.
She regretted the position the team were in, but it was something they couldn't change. "It's something we couldn't control, we weren't in the know ... When the decision came back early this week we accepted it."
Former Silver Fern Vilimaina Davu has switched from a coaching position to playing, a move forced by the withdrawal of Vakalala-Seru. Davu said morale was high despite the visa row.
