-
Watch Video
-
Related
The Prime Minister has taken responsibility for the confusion over a plan by his Maori affairs minister to meet with Fiji's military leader.
Pita Sharples' travel plans have been vetoed by John Key despite him initially giving the Maori Party co-leader the go ahead.
The bond between National and its political partner, the Maori Party, has turned slightly sour after the Prime Minister vetoed a trip by his Maori affairs minister to Fiji for crisis talks.
"It's his prerogative to do that. We accept that totally. It's a shame though, I was really looking forward to going," says Sharples.
Earlier in the week Key was comfortable with the idea.
"This is a free country so if any individual or group wants to go and travel to Fiji they are welcome to do so," said Key.
That quickly changed though with Key realising a ministerial visit could be used by Fiji's military leaders as evidence of a rift within the New Zealand government.
Key openly admitting he has caused some confusion.
"There are one or two statements I could have been a little more precise about," says Key.
The Maori Party's visit is still going ahead but with MP Hone Harawira filling in.
Even his own party accept he is perhaps not the most diplomatic of MPs to send to the trouble spot to mediate, but they hope it can connect where others have failed.
"We are all children of Maui, we are all sons and daughters of the pacific we think that's a road that is yet to be travelled," says Harawira.
The Greens are also considering a diplomatic visit to the island nation.
The Fijians are going from being shunned by their pacific neighbours to being overwhelmed with attention from New Zealand's backbench MPs.
