John Key

Wellington, March 29 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key has confirmed a Fijian government minister attended a conference in Auckland last week but says it didn't breach travel sanctions.

Fiji's Education and Sports Minister Felipe Bole was reported to have been in Manukau with 10 others from the Pacific region for the Oceania Football Confederation's conference.

"It was a region-wide meeting and we decided that it was appropriate for the minister to attend," Mr Key said today at his post-cabinet press conference.

"The travel ban applies to those in the regime, and the families of those in the regime, if they want to travel to New Zealand for personal or private reasons.

"But in cases where we think there might be some regional benefit, then we reserve the right to allow them to come in."