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Frank Bainimarama - Source: ONE News -
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Fiji's military has taken over the Reserve Bank in the capital, Suva.
The central bank is housed in the the same building as the New Zealand High Commission office, which is now closed, Radio New Zealand reported.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said High Commission staff were not under any threat.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully confirmed on Tuesday that soldiers had entered the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) Building which also hosted the high commission.
"People coming and going are being checked," McCully said.
"We understand there is some kind of action being taken against the (RBF) Governor (Savenaca Narbue)."
He said the Fiji economy was in serious strife even before the Easter Weekend events and the military did not understand the role of the central bank.
He said occupying the bank and seizing Narbue was "an act of vandalism".
"Things have reached an unpredictable stage, some sort of crack down is under way," McCully said.
"We have a volatile situation on our hands."
Earlier on Tuesday the RBF issued a statement in which its deputy governor Sada Reddy said it had "tightened exchange controls with immediate effect."
The crackdown comes as 3News reporter Sia Aston and cameraman Matt Smith, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation correspondent Sean Dorney, were deported.
Aston and Smith were due in Auckland.
Earlier McCully said New Zealanders should think twice about visiting Fiji.
He has also raised the possibility of travel and trade bans to the troubled Pacific nation but said they were not preferred options.
Local media are being censored and papers are no longer covering political events.
The latest turmoil in Fiji was prompted by its Court of Appeal ruling last Thursday that Commodore Frank Bainimarama's regime, in power since staging a 2006 coup, was illegal under the country's 1997 constitution.
In response, the country's ailing 88-year-old president Ratu Josefa Iloilo sacked the judges, dissolved the constitution, ruled out any election for five years and briefly removed Bainimarama before re-appointing him as prime minister.
McCully said New Zealanders involved in business in Fiji had talked to him about their problems but the solution ultimately lay in Fiji's own hands.
"We can't make them hold elections, we can't stop them wrecking their country if that's what they are intent on doing. There are all sorts of signs that Commodore Bainimarama is intent on wrecking his country before giving into the wishes of the international community."
Labour leader Phil Goff said Fiji's regime has lost its "veneer of respectability" now its citizens had been stripped of rights and the media put under state control.
He expected emphatic action from international bodies.
"Almost certainly the Commonwealth will suspend Fiji entirely from the Commonwealth -- that's an automatic process, I'd be very surprised if the Pacific Islands Forum didn't do the same. We've already heard harsh words from the United Nations," he said.
Other countries may follow New Zealand's stance of redirecting any development assistance through agencies rather than the government, Goff said.
What do you make of the Fiji situation? Post your comments on the messageboard below.
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Post new commentvaingloriouscoconut said on 2009-04-28 @ 23:37 NZDT: Report abusive post
Like a jedi knight said at the beginning of a certain movie, the whole crisis doesn't make sense. A phantom menace at work? Whoever stands to gain most from this charade are 'the Sith'. Alot of noble talk generating alot of thuggery. Judge by effects, and actions beloved Fijians - not by intentions and words. Time will reveal all.
UP2DATE said on 2009-04-28 @ 19:24 NZDT: Report abusive post
The UN is a joke. Sorry Fiji. The Commodore is a total dictator. Only the Fijian people can change this. It is time to stand up to this madness. Good luck.
Mark Manning said on 2009-04-23 @ 13:01 NZDT: Report abusive post
The Commander is hiding from allegations of and an investigation into , his and others , alleged involvement into the murders of 5 Counter Revolutionary Warfare Soldiers in 2000 . At that time of the civil unrest , some soldiers justified murder of these men by declaring them an act of war and thought that assertion would protect them from prosecution . However , one of those murdered , wasn't even in the vicinity of the camp at the time of the killings of the soldiers in the camp .
Udreudre said on 2009-04-18 @ 18:13 NZDT: Report abusive post
Bula Vinaka, just my comment on media. Actually the news now is much better. Before so much headache. Eg the move to get retirement age to 55. Oilei! If were in Fiji 2 months ago, you will know what I mean. As soon as the news was aired, 5 more related news: the unions, the politicians, close up show. Really very stressful. Our own version of Shortland Street was Fiji one news. Very entertaining but stressful. Even at night, we think, this and that, but now, no more. Only news not noise.
Udreudre said on 2009-04-18 @ 11:46 NZDT: Report abusive post
Actually, our beloved country can survive without aid money. we have land, sea, only thing is we get very relaxed. If we work hard and become independant, we will benefit. I am a landowner and personally if we dont get tourists, it will be good. They bring in their evilways. we have a population of 800,000, yet the tourist number is 600,000 per year!. They may be working as cleaners or maids but they come here and are treated like royalty. My children dont have to be slaves to the tourists.