NZ lawmakers to tour Fiji for seeing Fijian transition from military rule

A delegation of New Zealand lawmakers will visit Fiji this month to assess the Pacific island nation's return to parliamentary democracy, New Zealand Parliament Speaker David Carter said Tuesday.

Carter would lead two members of the Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Committee to Fiji from May 10 to 13, in reciprocating a visit by his Fijian counterpart Jiko Fatefehi Luveni in March.

The delegation would see first-hand progress that had been made in restoring Fiji's parliamentary democracy, and to assess the need for any additional support and assistance to the Parliament of Fiji, Careter said in a statement.

"It is clear that while progress in Fiji has been rapid in terms of its return to a functioning parliament, there is much that New Zealand can do to support and assist this process to ensure that the momentum continues sustainably," said Carter.

Meetings would be held with committee chairs and members to give them access and insight into the New Zealand Parliament's committee system.

New Zealand has been gradually lifting sanctions against Fiji since a general election in September last year ended eight years of military rule.

Voreqe Bainimarama, who seized power in a military coup in 2006, was elected Fiji's prime minister with about 60 percent of the vote in the proportional representation system.

The delegation would also hold talks with Bainimarama. Endi