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A TVNZ journalist who was detained at Nadi airport this morning has been sent back on the first flight to New Zealand.
Fiji’s Immigration Director Commander Viliame Naupoto confirmed that Barbara Dreaver, a TVNZ Pacific Correspondent, was on their ‘watchlist’.
“She was to get permission from the Department of Information and when we checked she was still not allowed in,” he said.
“We sent her back on the first flight this morning.”
Dreaver was taken into custody in Nadi last night, as she flew into Fiji.
She was "detained while going through immigration and taken to a detention centre overnight" reported TVNZ.
The incident occurred after reports that a diplomatic row between the New Zealand Government and Fiji’s interim regime reportedly erupted.
A New Zealand media report last night claimed the interim regime has issued an ultimatum for exemptions to the travel ban instituted by Wellington.
The Fiji Government, according to the report, has also vowed to expel a Suva-based NZ diplomat if Wellington does not reconsider its stand on three recent visa refusals.
So far, however, the Fiji Government says it is all speculation.
