KEY POINTS:
The sanctions against Fiji announced today by the Government are:
High-level contacts.
* Ministerial contact with any purported new government in Fiji will not take place unless it is for dialogue and mediation purposes.
* Members of any purported new Fijian government will not be permitted to travel to New Zealand.
Immigration.
* The ban announced yesterday on senior military officers and their families ravelling to New Zealand will be extended to include all members of the Fiji Military Force and other individuals connected with the coup.
* Fiji's participation in the new recognised Seasonal Employer scheme will be immediately frozen. That means Fiji will be excluded from the scheme was designed to help Pacific Islanders gain better access to seasonal work opportunities in New Zealand.
* No applications from Fijians for entry to New Zealand for seasonal work will be accepted from today.
* The eligibility of Fiji's citizens to take part in future immigration ballots under the access quota has been suspended. This will not affect those who have been selected from previous ballots.
Defence.
* All military personnel in New Zealand studying, training or exercising are being told that they and their family members must make arrangements to leave forthwith.
* Fijian military officers currently training with the New Zealand military will not be able to participate in any activities associated with that training, with immediate effect, pending their departure.
There are seven Fijian military personnel in New Zealand either training or studying at present.
Sporting matters.
* Fijian sports teams and Fijian sportspeople at all levels will be banned from coming to New Zealand for the purposes of sport, unless international sporting and legal obligations require otherwise.
As provided for in arrangements after the 2000 coup, where New Zealand is hosting an international sports tournament which requires acceptance of international participants, entry will not be banned, subject to those concerned meeting other immigration requirements.
* Discussions will be held with New Zealand sporting organisations scheduled to attend international tournaments in Fiji. the organisers of such tournaments (such as the 2007 Netball World Cup) will be approached to assess the safety of participants and the scope for seeking alternative venues.
NZRFU chief executive Chris Moller told NZPA the union's understanding was that international tournaments such as the Sevens, and the International Rugby Union's Pacific Nations Cup, would be regarded as international sporting tournaments.
"As a result, it is expected the Fijian teams will participate in these tournaments," he said.
Development Assistance.
The Government has decided to:
* Freeze any new development assistance initiatives which provide assistance to or are in partnership with the government in Fiji, and review current activities.
* Discontinue the awarding of new government-managed scholarships and training.
* Review and reconsider New Zealand's assistance to the Fiji Electoral Office.
* Suspend the Fiji public sector's eligibility for training initiatives under regional governance programmes.
* Review planned support for people in squatter settlements, with a view to assessing the scope for providing such assistance through non-government organisations and relevant regional agencies, rather than through the Fiji government.
- NZPA
