KEY POINTS:
Fiji's expulsion of New Zealand's acting high commissioner was a serious step and the Government is not going to rush into sending another representative, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said today.
Relations with Fiji are in tatters after the expulsion, which prompted the Government to retaliate by sending Fiji's head of mission in Wellington packing.
"It's a very serious matter to throw out a high commissioner," Mr McCully told Radio New Zealand.
"It's not something to be taken lightly. You don't just shake hands, say 'that's tough and let's get on with things tomorrow'."
Fiji refuses to rule out taking similar action against Australia's High Commissioner, James Batley, and has accused Canberra's diplomats of acting inappropriately.
Fiji's interim Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, called New Zealand's acting High Commissioner, Caroline McDonald, in at 5pm yesterday to declare her persona non grata.
Mr Bainimarama told Mr McCully that Ms McDonald had been "acting inappropriately" and had not "engaged" with his administration.
Mr McCully this morning rejected those assertions and said Ms McDonald was not in breach of any of her obligations.
He said "some time" would be taken to consider the situation before a decision was made about sending another senior diplomatic representative.
"Bear in mind also that Fiji has taken steps to ensure we cannot have either police or defence attaches operating from Suva," he said on Radio New Zealand.
Ms McDonald is the second top New Zealand diplomat he has expelled.
At 7.30pm Fiji's acting High Commissioner in Wellington, Cama Tuiloma, was expelled and given a week to leave.
Trouble between New Zealand and Fiji has been brewing since the new National-led Government rejected Commodore Bainimarama's request to lift a travel ban on family members of those involved in his regime.
Fiji has also claimed New Zealand and Australia are spying on it, including by using phone taps.
Last night Fijivillage.com said Fiji's interim Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, criticised both Australian and New Zealand diplomats during a press conference on Ms McDonald's expulsion and refused to rule out similar action against Mr Batley.
Mr McCully yesterday said the action against Ms McDonald was disappointing but New Zealand could not have acceded to "threats and ultimatums" from Fiji. The Government had tried to establish a constructive relationship.
"That has been made difficult by the fact that Commodore Bainimarama has employed ultimatums and threats to advance his case.
"This Government has no intention of making concessions with a gun pointed at our heads."
At the press conference, Mr Sayed Khaiyum said it was a matter between the two countries and would not alter Fiji's relations with other countries including other Pacific Forum countries, according to Fijivillage.com.
However, the action raises the stakes for Fiji, which was already facing possible suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum when country leaders meet in Papua New Guinea at the end of January.
Mr McCully said New Zealand did not want the expulsions to derail the chances of making progress with Fiji in that meeting. But the Government could not accede to Fiji's threats.
In June last year, Fiji expelled New Zealand's High Commissioner, Michael Green, after accusing him of interfering in domestic politics.
The new diplomatic breakdown comes a day after Fiji's Attorney-General said Suva wanted to improve relations with New Zealand and intended setting up a team to do so.
He has previously accused New Zealand and Australia diplomats of trying to foster discontent against the regime among the people of Fiji.
