18 Jun 2007

New Zealand says Fiji expulsion calls for serious and significant response

8:02 pm on 18 June 2007

New Zealand Government has begun the process of isolating further sanctions against Fiji in the wake of the expulsion of its High Commissioner, Michael Green.

The New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, says the action calls for serious and significant response but the government is not going to be rushed into deciding what it will do.

Ms Clark says the Ministry of Foreign affairs is to launch discussions with those New Zealand government departments and agencies that have links with Fiji.

"That will of course include Defence personnel, New Zealand Immigration Service, the Police and New Zealand Aid, and we have asked them to do a very thorough review of the relationship and what else might be done. I must stress it is not business as usual."