NZ PM's Fiji visit heavy on symbolism low on results

Transcript

The prime minister John Key made a 24 hour visit to Fiji this week - the first by a New Zealand leader in a decade.

Mr Key had hopes for progress on issues such as the Pacer Plus trade deal and Fiji's absence from the Pacific Islands Forum.

But it was not all plain sailing.

Sally Round accompanied the prime minister and filed this report.

Nayala village was Mr Key's last stop in a heavily symbolic trip aimed at resetting relations between the two countries.

JOHN KEY: The other thing you probably know is that our rugby team's called the All Blacks and they're the world champions (laughter) and tomorrow night we're playing Wales. And you guys are going to play Tonga right? You're going to win?
CROWD: Yes!
JK: Ican't hear you. Are you going to win?
CROWD: Yes!
JK: I can't hear you. Are you going to win?
CROWD: Yes!

Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama wasn't so keen to please at the banquet in honour of Mr Key. He used his welcome speech to justify his coup and to lash out at the New Zealand media.

FRANK BAINIMARAMA: There appears to be a substantial body of opinion in New Zealand by a generally hostile media that what has happened in Fiji somehow lacks legitimacy, that somehow I lack legitimacy and that my government lacks legitimacy. This is simply not borne out by the facts.

Mr Bainimarama made it clear he would not lift a ban on blacklisted journalists, including some from New Zealand, one of the sticky matters Mr Key had come to talk about. The Fijian leader's words at a state occasion appalled the opposition camp. The opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa said so in her meeting with Mr Key.

RO TEIMUMU KEPA: I apologised to him because I believe it was inappropriate. It was something you would not bring up at a state banquet. new Zealand is trying its best and we are grateful.

But both prime ministers insisted they were keen to progress the relationship following the coup years, Mr Key later brushing off talk of a snub.

JOHN KEY: I wasn't surprised he made the comments that he made. He's made those comments before and he'll probably make them again and he feels very strongly about the actions he took. New Zealand doesn't resile from the steps we took because at the core of it New Zealand cherishes and believes very strongly in democracy.

(New Zealand anthem)

Suva had earlier pulled out all stops to welcome Mr Key with a 100-strong Guard of Honour, children lining the streets with flags and a massive roadside billboard featuring the New Zealand leader. It was a far cry from the unceremonious departure in 2007 of the New Zealand High Commissioner Michael Green declared Persona non Grata at the height of post coup bad blood between the two countries. Mr Key called on the Fijian president Jioji Konrote before official talks between the two delegations, described by Mr Bainimarama as fruitful.

FRANK BAINIMARAMA: And we have begun the process of rebuilding and redefining our relationship and we have a much better understanding of our respective positions.

But Mr Key was not able to pull off his plan to get Mr Bainimarama to return to the leaders' table at the Pacific Islands Forum. Mr Bainimarama has refused to attend since Fiji's post-coup suspension was lifted, saying Australia and New Zealand have too much influence. Mr Key told Mr Bainimarama the Forum relies on the leadership shown by Australia and New Zealand.

JOHN KEY: New Zealand's not going anywhere. We have significant reponsibilities across the Pacific and we take those responsibilities very seriously and the Pacific Forum is the architecture we use for that."

It was an agree to disagree on the journalists' blacklist too. But Mr Key says there was progress on things like the seasonal work scheme and the region's Pacer Plus trade deal.

JOHN KEY: I think it's been very successful. I mean the aim of this visit was really to reset the relationship put the last sort of eight years of military coup behind us, not to resile from we did, I don't think the Fijian government is doing that either, in terms of resiling from what they've done. But really to say look we're now on a new foundation stone we want to take the relationship from strength to strength.

JOHN KEY: I'm not entirely sure I want to tackle any Tongans. But thank you for the thought anyway!
FRANK BAINIMARAMA: Vinaka
JOHN KEY: Thank you very much

The two leaders exchanged parting gifts of rugby paraphenalia. In a heavily symbolic visit to finally end a decade of tension, it was at least a win for rugby diplomacy.