KEY POINTS:
The Returned and Services Association may be full of old soldiers whose fighting days are over, but that didn't stop one veteran requiring a top-level security clearance to go to its national council meeting.
Fiji RSA president Mat Sarasau says he even had to hand over a picture of his wife before he could set foot in New Zealand.
Travel sanctions apply to members of the Fiji military who were enlisted at the time of Commodore Frank Bainimarama's 2006 coup - but Mr Sarasau retired in 1994.
The 58-year-old said he provided a certificate showing that in his visa application, but then found out Fiji authorities were asked to check he had "definitely" left the military.
Mr Sarasau showed his invitation to this week's Wellington meeting. Then on Thursday he was asked to hand over a photo of his wife.
He gave up, even though he had paid for flights to leave on Saturday.
Then, as he was playing snooker at the Fiji RSA on Friday night, Mr Sarasau received a call that his visa was granted. He was able to catch his flight to make the conference.
Mr Sarasau said he was leading a battalion in Lebanon during the first coup in 1987, then was head of the Fire Authority during George Speight's coup in 2000. During the latest coup, he was in hospital.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said Fiji military staff and their close relatives were covered by the sanction. He said although it did not apply to those who had left before 2006, immigration authorities undertook relevant inquiries to make sure visas were not granted wrongly.
Mr Sarasau said he was pleased to attend the council meeting in Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre.
"It's about the spirit of comradeship. It was important for me to maintain close relationships with the RSA."
