8 Apr 2015

NZ has no intention of leaving Forum reiterates McCully

11:42 am on 8 April 2015

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully has reiterated New Zealand has no intention of leaving the Pacific Islands Forum.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully. Photo: RNZ / Demelza Leslie

Fiji's Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, says he will not attend the September gathering of the region's lead political grouping unless Australia and New Zealand leave the organisation.

Frank Bainimarama

Frank Bainimarama Photo: Republika

Mr McCully says it is up to Fiji to determine whether it wishes to re-join the Forum.

Mr Bainimarama's comments come despite an express invitation from this year's host Papua New Guinea to attend.

Fiji's suspension from the Forum was lifted after Fiji's elections last year but Suva has stressed it wants to see changes to the group's make-up.

Suva earlier said Australia and New Zealand should decide whether they are members or development partners but they cannot be both.

It said the Forum should also be opened to membership by other partners like China, Japan and South Korea.

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