One of the Fiji High Court judges, Judge Justice Anjala Wati from the Family Court, has been refused entry into New Zealand.
Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum revealed that Judge Wati had applied for a NZ medical visa in order to take her 20 month old child for an urgent eye operation to prevent loss of sight in one of her eyes.
She was advised that her visa application had been rejected as she had taken up a position as a judge in the High Court of Fiji.
Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has labeled the move by the NZ government as unacceptable by any world standard.
Khaiyum said a distinction is always to be drawn between the executive and the judiciary and other independent institutions as they are separate and are independent of the executive.
However, the New Zealand High Commission said a visa has not been denied, the application is still being assessed.
NZ High Commission Suva said there was no suggestion made at the time of enquiries that immediate travel was required to prevent loss of sight of one eye, adding that if such information is available it should be provided to the NZ Immigration Office.
They said that although New Zealand maintains travel restrictions against certain persons following the coup in December 2006, New Zealand has always consistently shown flexibility where humanitarian, medical or compassionate grounds have been substantiated.
Judge refused entry into NZ
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