Former Fiji regime member in bid for New Zealand visa

Reports are saying that a former member of the Fiji interim government, Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi, is seeking a New Zealand visa, New Zealand's foreign minister says he is unable to discuss the case.

New Zealand immigration

Reports are saying Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi is seeking a New Zealand visa.

New Zealand foreign minister, Murray McCully, says he cannot discuss any individual case or whether Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi has applied for a New Zealand visa, though he has confirmed that there have been several applications made by former members of the Fiji regime.

Speaking on the situation, Minister McCully made the following statement:

“All I can say is that I’m familiar with the case because there has been some public discussion in relation to it. It relates to a person who was in the regime as I understand it and therefore there may some questions around the sanctions that we need to answer and I would of course only communicate with the minister of immigration about such a matter after I had advice from the ministry of foreign affairs.”

In related news, a New Zealand visa was granted last month to a former senior Fiji military officer, Lieutenant Colonel Tevita Mara. Mara is currently wanted in Fiji for skipping bail after being charged with sedition.

The New Zealand Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with New Zealand immigration applications.