WELLINGTON, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's acting Head of Mission in Fiji would fly home on Thursday, after being expelled by the interim regime, Radio New Zealand reported.

    Fiji interim leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama issued the 24-hour expulsion order for New Zealand's Todd Cleaver and Australian High Commissioner James Batley on Tuesday evening, citing interference with the functioning of Fiji's judiciary as the reason.

    Problems issuing a visa for a Fiji judge whose child needed medical treatment in New Zealand and Australia's refusal to allow Sri Lankan judges working in Fiji to visit Australia, were cited as examples of this interference.

    The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Cleaver would fly out of Nadi and was expected to arrive in New Zealand on Thursday night.

    Cleaver will not make any public comment until he has met with Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully in New Zealand, and he is the third New Zealand diplomat kicked out by the regime in two years.

    In return the New Zealand government on Wednesday ordered Fiji's acting head of mission in New Zealand, Kuliniasi Seru Savou, to leave.

    The Australian government has also told Fiji's Canberra-based envoy Kamlesh Kumar Arya to go home.

    New Zealand's High Commission in Suva remains closed. However, people can try to phone the commission if they need assistance, as there are still a few staff in the office.

    McCully said the decision to expel Savou followed diplomatic protocol and the government's action drew attention to the fact Fiji's basis for expelling New Zealand's diplomat was unfounded.

    There had been some recent improvements in relations between the two countries, with each recently boosting depleted missions, but the diplomatic expulsions were another step backwards, McCully said on Wednesday.

    New Zealand-based Coalition for Democracy in Fiji said the latest row between the countries showed a different diplomatic approach was needed.

    Spokesperson Nick Naidu said Fiji had made mistakes and he would like to see New Zealand and Australia change their approach from sanctions and isolation. He said people in Fiji were tired of coups.

    However, Fiji Club of New Zealand president Alton Shameem said the New Zealand government must adopt a foreign policy approach like that of United States President Barack Obama and start engaging.