A thaw with Fiji

Stuff reports:

The curtain has finally been drawn on a near decade-long freeze on top-level relations between New Zealand and Fiji.

Prime Minister John Key and his Fijian counterpart Frank Bainimarama on Tuesday (early Wednesday, NZ time) held a formal bilateral talk on the fringes of the United Nations general assembly  – the first since the military overthrow of Fiji’s elected government in 2006. …

After posing for photographs and having a quick chat about rugby Key and Bainimarama withdrew to a private room to continue their meeting, with talks expected to focus on Fiji’s role in the Pacific. They will also canvass the likelihood of a top-level visit by Key.

Relations between New Zealand and Fiji soured following the 2006 coup and diplomatic relations have only been restored since Bainimarama’s government was democratically elected in 2014.

Good to see relations heading back to normal. One can disapprove of the coup and the behaviour of the military Government. But by all accounts Fiji had fair democratic elections, and is functioning again under the rule of law. it will be good to have the two Governments working together.