Update: 6:57PM IT was a tearful farewell at Nadi International Airport just over 20 minutes ago as the New Zealand head of mission Todd Cleaver and his family left the country.
Their departure follows a State order made on Tuesday night for the withdrawal of the New Zealand and Australian heads of mission in Fiji.
The Cleavers, with their two children in tow, left Fiji with good wishes for the country, and thanks for their time here. Earlier today they were farewelled by staff and diplomatic families, and given a high-level diplomatic escort out of Suva.
The family boarded the Air New Zealand flight NZ55 at 6.30pm.
They had no comment to make on the need for their departure.
Yesterday New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully confirmed that Mr Cleaver was formally declared Persona Non Grata and told to leave Fiji.
"As a result of that action, at 3pm (NZ time) officials from New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade met with Fiji's Acting Head of Mission in Wellington, Mr Kuliniasi Seru Savou, and told him he had been declared Persona Non Grata and was instructed to leave New Zealand," Mr McCully said in a statement yesterday.
"As a result of the expulsion of Mr Cleaver, and the impact this has had on the New Zealand High Commission in Suva, the High Commission is closed today. It will remain closed while we assess its capability to continue to carry out its main functions."
