New Zealand has helped and continues to help Fiji with its border control challenges.

This is from the New Zealand High Commission after the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Lieutenant Colonel Pio Tikoduadua urged Australia and New Zealand to open their doors for Fiji personnel to have training in their countries on technical assistance and border control.

The New Zealand High Commission said New Zealand has provided $NZ 1.2 million in support for work in the recent years undertaken by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Quarantine Service to help improve border security and quarantine provisions in Fiji.

It said this assistance also includes providing four x-ray scanner units.

The High Commission said the New Zealand government financially and technically supports a number of regional agencies and initiatives in which Fiji participates and benefits, which are working to improve border security and customs provisions in the Pacific.

It added that the bulk of New Zealand's engagement with Fiji through the Pacific Security Fund continues to be in relation to border control issues.

The Commission said the New Zealand customs and Police in particular, maintains operation contact with Fiji officials and with the Oceania Customs Organization in relation to countering the trafficking of both drugs and people and also wildlife, which is not exclusive to Fiji, as a number of countries are involved.