Most delegates for Pacific Islands Forum to arrive by evening

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KEY: Well again I don't want to prejudge that, we're going to Port Moresby tomorrow to have that very discussion. But at some point the Forum has to consider the way it will be viewed by the outside world and if we're not going to be prepared to act almost certainly the Commonwealth Secretariat will act because actually it's required to act. I mean it has a requirement that within two years of an illegitimate government it's forced to act. So I think we need to obviously be fair about the situation, we need to consider what the Fijians are saying, but our position from New Zealand's point of view is pretty clear, we want to see a tangible and demonstrated evidence that Fiji is on a pathway to elections.

COUTTS: Another of the journalists at the John Key media conference asked him to explain what action the Commonwealth may take when the interim government has been in office for two years.

And the journalist queried whether the two year period had already expired.

KEY: No I think it's my understanding it's February or March that position gets considered. But it looks pretty clear that in theory they would have to be suspended. I think.

JOURNALIST: So that remains a definite option tomorrow?

KEY: Well that of course would be an option for the Forum yeah.

JOURNALIST: Do you know anymore about what happened in Friday with Michael Somare apparently postponing the meeting, what's the background there?

KEY: Yeah I don't really, I mean other than the fact that he was in communication with Frank Bainimarama. I understand that Mr Bainimarama had given him an assurance that he would attend a meeting if it was held at a later date and initially Michael Somare thought that that might be a good idea if it could be postponed. But there certainly wasn't a date that would work for either Kevin Rudd or myself and I just made it clear to Mr Somare that I thought it was in the best interests of the Forum and the process that we proceeded with the date of the 27th and that's now what's taking place.

COUTTS: Mr Key was also asked to explain what he perceives the risks would have been if the Forum members agreed to delay the special meeting until February the 10th as requested by PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.

KEY: Well the risk is of course that Frank Bainimarama doesn't turn up at any date, and that's a risk obviously that Michael Somare had to consider.

JOURNALIST: If Fiji was expelled what would it actually mean for them, is it just a symbolic gesture or would it actually affect it?

KEY: Oh it depends on the level of expulsion. I mean there's expulsions and there's suspensions effectively. There's suspensions and suspensions. I mean some could include just from ministerial contact groups and from high level forum meeting, other could be much more draconian. I mean in the end the decision about whether Fiji returns to democracy is something that Frank Bainimarama controls. If there's no political intent and no goodwill it doesn't matter how much other countries express their displeasure at that, it won't happen. But I think that Mr Bainimarama actually will listen to the Forum at one level because it's essentially a collection of his peers and that's the leadership that we can show.

COUTTS: And would it be difficult to consider suspending Fiji, as the Forum Secretariat is currently housed in Suva.

KEY: No it depends on the level of the suspension and that's the sort of thing we have to consider tomorrow.

JOURNALIST: How could they be his peers when he's self appointed?

KEY: Well they're his peers in terms of Pacific Island leaders. I mean I think he looks at those countries and has respect for their views and probably would personally not like being essentially given a dressing down by them.