(o) Kiwi's "Scary" Arrival in Nadi

Queenstown Times columnist Miranda Spary's arrival in Nadi airport recently was nerve-wracking, with a large military and police presence keeping the crowds out amid much yelling and chaos. But it turned out it was just a crowd welcoming home the Fiji Sevens rugby team after winning in Hong Kong. That was the scariest moment of the visit to Fiji. In fact, it was the only scary moment.

[The article goes on to describe economic problems due to the downturn of tourism, the recent floods, devaluation, and the effects of ill-informed NZ media information...

Every New Zealander interviewed there said they had received phone calls and emails from panicky family and friends worried for their safety.

While the media is telling people it is unsafe, the official New Zealand travel advisory service does not. It simply explains the current political situation and says to be alert to any deterioration, especially in Suva, which is not the main tourist destination. Having said that, contacts who have been to Suva say everything is normal, even around Government House and the business district. The western side of the island is the main tourist hub, and there is no evidence of any unrest there. If it were not for the barrage of concerned emails and texts from New Zealand, and reading the online papers, life in Fiji would be just the same.

No-one likes to see the media muzzled, but the local people are well aware of what has happened. They all read the news online as well. They have to, as the standard of local media leaves a lot to be desired. The more cynical among them think the journalists who were asked to leave were scratching hard to create a story out of nothing.

The feeling among the locals I spoke to is that Frank Bainimarama is doing not too bad a job. They are put out that the judicial hearing took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the decision was given on Thursday. [This refers to the unexpectedly short time it took the Australian judges to reach and publish their verdict.] To read the full story, click Pacific MediaWatch