The New Zealand Labour Party's spokesperson for foreign affairs says he has no objection to Fiji's military regime leader being granted a visa if it enables Fiji's September election to be more democratic.
Rear Admiral Frank Bainimarama told media he would spend four days campaigning in New Zealand next month if he is granted a visa.
But the New Zealand government will not say whether the visit will go ahead, despite Wellington lifting travel sanctions on those who carried out the 2006 military coup in March.
The Labour Party's spokesperson for foreign affairs, David Shearer, says the trip might push the election to be more free and fair.
"I don't have a problem in it so far as it helps the success of the Fijian election. I don't believe the election is going to be the most perfect in the world but if it is sufficiently democratic to transition us from where we are now, where it is effectively a dictatorship, then it's something that we should get in behind."
The New Zealand Labour Party's spokesperson for foreign affairs, David Shearer.
