KEY POINTS:
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples believes imposing sporting sanctions against Fiji is wrong and is urging the Government to consider sending further aid - in the form of food - instead of freezing new initiatives.
Dr Sharples said yesterday he'd been approached by Fijian contacts here before the coup erupted to consider heading to Fiji as a "tangata whenua" mediator.
He'd abandoned the idea for the meantime, but might yet explore the options again when a new Government was established.
He said he was pleased no troops would be sent and did not object to bans related to military people and contacts.
But he was unhappy with some of the sanctions being imposed.
"This is the time when they need help, when there is the sort of repression and restrictions on their movements and actions in Fiji I would have thought this was the time to hold the olive branch to actually show those concerned in the coup that there is a right way.
"I'd be sending extra stuff over, especially food.
"Banning sporting contacts seems a bit silly doesn't it? If a local village wants to bring a team to New Zealand why should we stop it, what's that got to do with the coup?"
Dr Sharples said he wasn't criticising the Government for its approach to talks between the Fijian military and Government.
Labour MP Shane Jones was critical of the Maori Party's decision not to condemn the coup in Parliament this week.
"They enjoy their democratic rights in Parliament every day, but are unwilling to speak out for them to be upheld in the Pacific.
"Pita seems to want to be Rev Jesse Jackson to the Fijians ... he has no mandate for these stunts."
