4 Sep 2008

New Zealand says no travel permits for former Labour members of interim government

9:49 am on 4 September 2008

Fiji's former interim finance minister, Mahendra Chaudry, and two of his collegues remain banned from travelling to New Zealand despite quitting their jobs last month.

New Zealand posted a travel ban on people associated with the interim government following the coup in 2006.

Last month, Mr Chaudry, who's the Labour Party leader and two of his party members, Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi and Tom Ricketts resigned from the interim government.

A New Zealand ministry of foreign affairs official, Dave Courtney, says Fiji interim ministers have given considerable support to and have been an integral part of the military-led government.

Mr Courtney says resignation or dismissal from office does not result in the automatic removal of New Zealand's travel sanctions and they remain banned.

Australia is also upholding its travel ban on the ex-interim ministers in question.