Murray McCully

Wellington, Nov 4 NZPA - The tit for tat diplomatic expulsions between New Zealand and Fiji are another step backwards in relations between the two countries, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said today.

New Zealand today expelled Fiji's Acting Head of Mission in New Zealand, Kuliniasi Seru Savou today in retaliation for New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner Todd Cleaver and Australian High Commissioner James Bartley being told to leave Fiji.

Mr Cleaver was New Zealand's acting head of mission after Fiji previously ousted High Commissioner Michael Green then his successor, acting High Commissioner Caroline McDonald.

Mr McCully said New Zealand had now lost three heads of mission in Fiji, which was "unfortunate".

It had been demanded that Mr Cleaver leave within 24 hours but that was not possible and a breach of international conventions, Mr McCully said.

There had been some recent in improvements in relations between the two countries, with each recently boosting depleted missions, but today was a set back.

"I wouldn't get too bent out of shape about this... we have our ups and downs and this is one of the downs. There are other people in the Fijian system who have been trying to make progress," Mr McCully said.

"This is a couple of large steps backwards"

It is believed that the interim head of Fiji's government, Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, ordered the expulsions after Australia informed Fiji that six Sri Lankan judges would not be allowed to transit through that country after they were appointed.

Fijian officials have also complained that New Zealand had delayed or blocked Fijian judge Anjala (crct) Wati from getting into New Zealand on a compassionate exemption from the ban to be with her sick child.

Mr McCully denied this and said the applications had been dealt with quickly and approved.

It is understood the pair are in Auckland, with the child having been admitted to the Starship Hospital.

Mr McCully believed Fiji was irritated by travel sanctions that impacted on judges it was recruiting from Sri Lanka.

"I think the Judge Wati episode in New Zealand was probably a convenient flashpoint from the regime's point of view but that's what we've come to expect."

Mr McCully described Cdre Bainimarama as "tempestuous" and a "challenge to deal with".

New Zealand and Australia had imposed travel restrictions on the Fijian judiciary and members of the administration, in protest at Fiji being run without a democratically elected government.

The steps by Fiji showed that the administration their "hated" the travel ban and complained about it all the time, which meant it was achieving what it was set up to do, Mr McCully said.

Cdre Bainimarama said the heads of Australia and New Zealand's diplomatic missions in Fiji had refused to engage with the government.

"They misinform Canberra and Wellington and wage a negative campaign against the government and people of Fiji," he told news agencies.

Mr McCully said the High Commission in Fiji was closed today as it was down several staff members.

Officials were now considering what services it could provide in the future.

New Zealanders wishing to travel to Fiji should consider the situation there, look at the ministry's travel advisory and decide whether they were comfortable with travelling to that country.

Mr McCully said he was not urging New Zealanders to consider their travel plans to hurt Fiji, but he was not willing to be left open to accusations that he had not warned people if the "volatile" situation did worsen in Fiji.

The changes in travel advisory reflected that the High Commission was no longer in a position to assist New Zealanders in Fiji to the level it once was.

Fiji said Mr Cleaver had 24 hours to leave the country, which was around 7pm today New Zealand time.

Mr McCully said under international conventions expelled diplomats had to be given a reasonable amount of time to leave a country and New Zealand would be following that convention.

There were practical difficulties in getting Mr Cleaver out of Fiji within the deadline.

"We hope that the Fijian authorities co-operate with us and abide by their obligations," Mr McCully said.

Fiji, which has suffered four coups and a bloody military mutiny since 1987, was plunged into a fresh crisis in April after the president reappointed Cdre Bainimarama as prime minister, less than two days after the High Court ruled his 2006 coup and subsequent government was illegal.

Australia and New Zealand have been at the forefront of condemnation of Cdre Bainimarama since he toppled Fiji's elected government in a December 2006 coup.