NZ's PM says Fiji visit a success

The Prime Minister has described his official visit to Fiji this week as a success, despite publicly disagreeing with the country's leader on several issues.

RNZI reports at a state banquet, Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama criticised the New Zealand media and defended his banning of some journalists from Fiji, claiming they dispensed with facts.

John Key asked Mr Bainimarama to reconsider the ban during the visit, and said they would have to agree to disagree.

But he said overall the trip was a success.

"The aim of this visit was really to reset the relationship, put the last sort of, I suppose eight years of the military coup behind us, really to say, look we now have a new foundation stone, we want to take the relationship from strength to strength."

John Key says he also made it clear to Mr Bainimarama that New Zealand would not leave the Pacific Islands Forum, which Mr Bainimarama has previously sought.