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Prime Minister Helen Clark intends holding talks during this weekend's Apec summit in Sydney to look for ways to deal with the latest crisis in Fiji.
Miss Clark today joined Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon in expressing serious concern about the return to martial law in Fiji, ordered by military leader and self-appointed prime minister Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama.
Miss Clark deplored the recent "significant setbacks" in Fiji.
"Firstly actions were taken which led to a number of senior judges resigning, that's a bad sign," she told reporters.
"The second bad sign was the reintroduction of martial law, that had been lifted some months ago in response to international partners saying they couldn't move forward on the return to constitutional government when there were emergency regulations in place."
Miss Clark said she hoped to have discussions at the Apec summit with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, the founder of the 16-member Pacific Island Forum, about ways in which governments could work together on Fiji's latest problem.
She also said New Zealand had called for an urgent meeting of the forum's joint working group which maintains contact with Cdre Bainimarama's administration.
Cdre Bainimarama yesterday reinstated martial law for a month following the return to Suva of deposed former prime minister Laisenia Qarase.
He accused Mr Qarase of "irresponsible and inciteful behaviour" and of trying to destabilise Fiji with allegations of military intimidation.
Miss Clark, who left for Sydney early this afternoon, said she had no plans to put in place further sanctions against Fiji but wanted to work to ensure martial law was lifted as quickly as possible.
Earlier today Mr McKinnon, a former New Zealand foreign minister, said Cdre Bainimarama's action would set back steps towards reinstating democracy in Fiji.
"It is essential that there is no backtracking from the commitment of the interim authorities to return Fiji to democratic and constitutional rule in the forecast timeframes," he said.
"The people of Fiji have the right to select freely the leaders and government of their choice."
Foreign Minister Winston Peters yesterday described the development as "a very disastrous, totally retrograde step".
The forum is due to hold its annual leaders meeting in Tonga next month.
Cdre Bainimarama has said he will attend, and if he does there is likely to be a confrontation with those who are urging him to return Fiji to democracy.
Fiji's military spokesman Mosese Tikoitoga said today Mr Qarase had "gone beyond the limits of free speech" and was inciting instability, Radio Live reported.
Mr Tikoitoga said the decision had been taken to impose a state of emergency now rather than wait for instability to break out.
- NZPA
