The New Zealand Prime Minister has labelled the questioning of a New Zealand police officer by the Fiji Police as absurd.
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The Officer was taken in for questioning after he was seen taking photos during the Fiji Day and acting in a suspicious manner.

Helen Clark who was briefed about the incident yesterday morning told ONE News that the incident is a little absurd and believes it is indicative of the general state of insecurity in Fiji at present.

Clark said that nothing has worked out the way Commodore Frank Bainimarama told the people that it would when he mounted the coup and he lashes out at people from time to time. She also said that she believes any further action by the Fiji police would be "completely out of order".

Clark stressed that there is a lot of tension in Fiji and diplomatic staff are always careful about how they behave.

Meanwhile the New Zealand High Commission yesterday released a statement saying that there is no basis for any claims of suspicious activities by any member of the New Zealand Police in Fiji. The High Commission said that a New Zealand Police Officer who has for some years been posted at the High Commission as Regional Liaison Officer took some photographs of the Fiji Independence Day Parade in a private capacity from his apartment balcony.

According to the statement released by the High Commission, the officer did what many other members of the public do on such an occasion. However it said the officer fully co-operated with the police. The Commission said that the officers explanation was accepted and the matter is closed.

Meanwhile, the Police Operations Director SSP Waisea Tabakau said they respect the High Commission's statement however their investigations are still underway.