Murray McCully

Wellington, Dec 24 NZPA - Britain's High Commissioner to New Zealand George Fergusson today condemned Fiji's expulsion of New Zealand's acting High Commissioner Caroline McDonald.

The relationship between the Fiji and New Zealand hit a new low when Fiji's self-appointed Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama last night gave Ms McDonald a week to get out of the country.

Two hours later Fiji's acting High Commissioner to New Zealand, Cama Tuiloma, was expelled and given a week to get out.

Mr Fergusson said today: "We are extremely disappointed at the wholly unjustified expulsion of the New Zealand acting High Commissioner in Suva."

Cdre Bainimarama ordered Ms McDonald's expulsion because the Government here refused his ultimatum to grant a visa to the student son of a senior official in Suva.

He also told Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully that Ms McDonald had been "acting inappropriately" and had not "engaged" with his administration.

Mr McCully rejected those assertions and said Ms McDonald was not in breach of any of her obligations.

He said "some time" would be taken to consider the situation before a decision was made about sending another senior diplomatic representative.