The Human Rights Foundation says a former Fiji military officer may get refugee status in New Zealand if he can prove he has a well-founded fear of persecution in his home country.
Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Tevita Mara fled to Tonga after being charged with sedition, saying he would not get a fair trial in Fiji.
To get asylum in New Zealand, Colonel Mara will need to first ask to be removed from the list of Fiji government and military officials who are the subject of a travel ban.
The Human Rights Foundation says a decision on whether he would be granted asylum or refugee status would be made by an independent tribunal.
Chief executive Peter Hosking says the foundation also hopes this case will cause the Government to re-think its strategy of isolating Fiji and travel bans in relation to the Fiji coup, as it's hard to see it is working.
