The leader of the New Zealand Act Party Don Brash says New Zealand should be encouraging the Fiji interim leader's commitment to racial equality.
Dr Brash says he understands Commodore Frank Bainimarama wants to move away from policies favouring indigenous Fijians which fostered racial tension and friction.
Dr Brash says he's not defending military coups but he says other countries are gaining influence in Fiji as a result of New Zealand policies which have ostracised the regime.
"New Zealand ostensibly also believes in equality irrespective of race and I would have thought we should have been encouraging that development albeit encouraging free elections as well."
The Leader of the New Zealand Act Party, Don Brash.
