Home / IWK /

Fiji-NZ relations thaw

Fiji and New Zealand have agreed to restore partial diplomatic ties following a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced the National-led Government would improve relations after talks with Fiji's interim Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola in Nadi last weekend.

"A number of issues of bilateral interest to both countries were discussed in a positive and constructive atmosphere.

"The face-to-face meeting followed ongoing communications between the two Ministers over recent months," Mr McCully said in a written statement.

"The Governments have agreed to an additional consular position being established for Fiji in Wellington, and for New Zealand in Suva, with approval in principle for Deputy Head of Mission appointments in each capital to follow soon."

He said the two Foreign Ministers agreed to keep in close contact and to meet as necessary in future.

“The members and supporters of Fiji Club of New Zealand are delighted that Fiji and New Zealand governments are now finally engaging to productively amend their relationships," club president Alton Shameem said.

"This positive outcome has resulted due to intense calls for engagement between the two governments by Fiji Club of NZ,” Mr Shameem said.

“Fiji Club of NZ is seriously committed to helping and assisting in whatever way possible both the Fiji and New Zealand governments to move forward towards economic and social development for the common good of all their citizens.

“The consular services in Suva for our New Zealand Government and for Fiji in Wellington will be the conduits to bringing both the countries together as good neighbours.”

Labour Foreign Affairs spokesman Chris Carter said he congratulated the Government on the move.

He said constructive dialogue with Fiji was positive.

Mr Carter said the former Labour-led Government had tried to commit Commodore Bainimarama to an election date "but he keeps moving the goal posts".

He told the New Zealand Herald the Labour Party would do all it could to assist the Government, including using its extensive contacts among the Indo-Fijian community in New Zealand.

Commodore Frank Bainimarama took power in a bloodless coup in 2006, since then the press has been censored and the self-appointed Government has dismissed the country's Court of Appeal and abolished its constitution.

Fiji and New Zealand have agreed to restore partial diplomatic ties following a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced the National-led Government would improve relations after talks with Fiji's interim Foreign Minister...