The Fijian Army chief who “fled” the country to Tonga two weeks ago may well be allowed into New Zealand.
Prime Minister John Key is open to the possibility of offering Lieutenant-Colonel Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara political asylum in New Zealand.
Mr Key has said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade was looking at removing Ratu Tevita from a travel ban list and is not ruling out allowing Ratu Tevita into the country.
"We are looking at the situation," Mr Key told Radio New Zealand yesterday.
"The ban that we have is a travel ban on those that are members of the regime or are related to members of the regime. In the case of Mr Mara that is no longer the case."
Meanwhile, two New Zealanders have reportedly been interviewed by Fijian authorities in connection with Ratu Tevita’s defection to Tonga.
Businessman Anthony Fullman and surfing instructor Tim McBride, were reportedly being held by Fiji police for questioning in connection with the defection.
Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama is seeking to have Ratu Tevita extradited from Tonga to stand trial for sedition.
Mr Key told Newstalk ZB he had not heard of any New Zealanders being in custody in Fiji.
Meanwhile, Ratu Tevita, in an interview posted on Coup Four and a Half, said he was rescued by Tongan Navy, and was not picked up by them illegally.
"My statements and my presence here in Tonga is a big slap in the face of the regime. Bainimarama needs to save face and the only way they can do that is by framing someone as an accomplice to my escape.
"As I said I went fishing by myself and I got into difficulties and I was rescued by a Tongan Navy vessel.
"I am a military officer and I am perfectly capable of organising a fishing trip."
He said military surveillance teams were loyal to him and not Commodore Bainimarama.
"I was fishing from Sunday to Tuesday before I got into difficulties.
"In that whole time no one knew I was missing. This indicates the lack of support for Frank (Bainimarama) in the army."
In an editorial on Saturday, the New Zealand Herald said the dictatorship’s hold on Fiji was crumbling.
“Directly or indirectly Tonga is standing up for Fijians' right to be heard. Having undergone its own tentative transformation to real democracy, it now does the democratic cause in the wider South Pacific a valuable service.
“New Zealand is steering clear of taking sides. Foreign Minister Murray McCully noted the division in the regime and said intervention would not be helpful. He is probably right.
“Commodore Bainimarama tries to convince Fijians that criticism from Australia and New Zealand is some kind of post-colonial hang-up from nations with no clue of the cultural and societal goals of his armed rule.
“Colonel Mara's insider view is far more powerful, in any case. A leading Fijian Establishment military man is calling things as they are.
“He hopes Tonga's system will resist pressure and prevent Suva forcing him home before the regime is itself in the dock, answering to Fijians for the abuses and misrule it has perpetrated. The case will be a milestone in Fiji's return to freedom,” the Herald said.