Update: 3:42PM NEW Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully has confirmed that the NZ Acting Head of Mission in Fiji, Todd Cleaver, was formally declared Persona Non Grata early this afternoon and told to leave Fiji.
"As a result of that action, at 3pm (NZ time) officials from New Zealands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade met with Fiji's Acting Head of Mission in Wellington, Mr Kuliniasi Seru Savou, and told him he had been declared Persona Non Grata and was instructed to leave New Zealand," Mr McCully said in a statement.
"As a result of the expulsion of Mr Cleaver, and the impact this has had on the New Zealand High Commission in Suva, the High Commission is closed today. It will remain closed while we assess its capability to continue to carry out its main functions."
Mr McCully said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trades travel advisory for New Zealanders visiting Fiji has been changed to reflect todays developments in Suva.
"New Zealanders travelling to Fiji should now be aware that the level of assistance the High Commission can provide to New Zealand citizens may be affected due to the depleted staff numbers," Mr McCully said.
