Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

New Zealand says despite talks with Fiji no substantive change in ties

Posted at 06:08 on 12 January, 2010 UTC

New Zealand says there is no substantive change to its policy towards Fiji as it moves to improve diplomatic relations.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, has held talks with this Fiji counterpart, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, in Nadi.

Now both countries have agreed to appoint an additional Counsellor to their embassies in Wellington and Suva.

Mr McCully says his Australian counterpart was keen to see him improve the situation and increase numbers at the High Commission.

But he says they would consult again when it came to reinstating High Commissioners for both Australia and New Zealand:

“Any discussions that were to take place about that office would take place at the same time as Australia did, I wouldn’t want to get ahead of our Australian friends in that respect, we’re working very closely, couldn’t work more closely in that respect.”

There is also approval in principle for Deputy Head of Mission appointments in each capital to follow soon.