KEY POINTS:
A ban on Fiji's military commander and self-appointed prime minister Frank Bainimarama travelling to New Zealand will be lifted briefly so he can attend the Pacific Island forum next week.
Commodore Bainimarama and members of his regime have been banned from entering New Zealand since the December 2006 coup.
Fairfax Media reported today that Foreign Affairs Ministry officials confirmed the ban would be relaxed to enable Cdre Bainimarama and his officials to transit through Auckland airport on their way to the forum in Niue.
They defended the decision to relax the rules on the grounds that the forum wanted an update from Fiji on its previous pledge to hold an election by March 2009.
Fiji's failure to commit to elections next year is likely to top the agenda at the meeting.
Prime Minister Helen Clark will fly to the forum, which brings together the leaders of 16 Pacific countries, including New Zealand and Australia, next Monday.
Miss Clark said Fiji was shaping as the most pressing issue, with Cdre Bainimarama breaking a commitment to hold elections by March next year within current constitution and electoral law.
She said the forum's foreign ministers contact group had said a lack of political will was the only thing preventing elections being held next year.
The group would make a recommendation to leaders about what to do next.
Miss Clark said leaders would also discuss the Pacific Plan - an initiative to enhance co-operation between countries to overcome common challenges such as high fuel prices.
She hoped the forum would be able to agree to bulk fuel purchasing at a sub-regional level to lower fuel prices for some island countries.
Miss Clark will meet Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Auckland on Monday, immediately ahead of both leaders flying out to the forum.
Miss Clark will return on Wednesday after the post-forum dialogue which includes representatives of the United States, the European Union, China and Japan.
- NZPA
