Affairs
Oceania Briefing

Let's just try

Preface

Fiji’s military government and arch-critic New Zealand have resorted to “rugby diplomacy” as the best hope of repairing their fractious relationship.

Credits

Writer: Tim Hume



The South Pacific neighbours, both leading exponents of the oval ball game, have agreed in principle to meet for high-level talks at the annual Hong Kong rugby sevens tournament (above) in late March.

Relations between the two countries, at odds over Fiji’s refusal to set deadlines for elections, have been fraught since top diplomats were dismissed in tit-for-tat expulsions in November, although a recent agreement has been reached to restore mid-level staff to their posts.