6 Nov 2014

NZ mum on Pacific Forum review plan

9:25 am on 6 November 2014

There is no response yet from the New Zealand Government on whether it supports plans by Fiji and Australia for another review of Pacific regional agencies.

At the weekend the Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, and her Fijian counterpart, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, announced there would be a meeting in Sydney to discuss the structure of Pacific agencies.

This follows Fiji's refusal to re-join the Pacific Islands Forum after its suspension was lifted.

Fiji Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola

Fiji Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

Fiji says it will not come back as long as New Zealand and Australia remain members, and also suggested nations such as Japan, France and the United States could join.

There has been little response from around the region, with the New Zealand Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, saying since it is a meeting of Pacific leaders being proposed he would need to discuss the matter with Prime Minister John Key before offering a view.