Frank Bainimarama

Wellington, Nov 15 NZPA - Fiji's self-appointed Prime Minister said New Zealand's Deputy High Commissioner was expelled from the Pacific nation as a message to "leave us alone".

Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama said New Zealand had to "stop this bullying".

"If you bully people there'll be some retaliation," he told TV One's Sunday programme.

Deputy High Commissioner Todd Cleaver was kicked out of Fiji earlier this month simply because he was a representative of New Zealand, Cmdre Bainimarama said.

"We tried to send New Zealand a message, New Zealand has been telling us that they want to destroy our economy, destroy our judiciary and we want to tell New Zealand -- stop that."

He also said New Zealand's travel ban on members of the Fijian regime meant he could not attend rugby games, visit family or get medical care in New Zealand.

He said he was committed to holding a democratic election in 2014 after missing numerous deadlines set internationally.

Prime Minister John Key said New Zealand had been trying to work constructively with Fiji when Cmdre Bainimarama decided to "kick out more people".

Mr Cleaver arrived home on November 5 and the High Commission in Suva was closed.

Australia's High Commissioner James Bartley was also told to leave Fiji.