New Zealand foreign minister Murray McCully says he’s keeping an open mind about sanctions on Fiji, after Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama announced plans last week to consult the public on a new constitution, which is expected to be ready by next February.

Commodore Bainimarama, who seized power in a 2006 coup, said the new constitution would enshrine principles of one-person-one-vote, an independent judiciary and transparent governance.

According to a media report, Mr McCully said Wellington saw the consultation as a step in the right direction for Fiji, and it was keeping an open mind about post-coup sanctions.

“We’ve never ruled out looking at the sanctions,” he said.