Aust and NZ lift Fiji travel bans

Australia and New Zealand have lifted all travel restrictions on Fiji's top officials after the South Pacific nation decided to hold elections in September.

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said lifting the restrictions was part of the government's decision to "normalise bilateral relations with Fiji".

"It follows the significant progress Fiji has made towards holding elections by September," she said on Monday.

"We are confident that lifting travel restrictions will lay a framework for closer dialogue and co-operation with Fiji on bilateral and regional issues."

New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said Fiji's progress towards holding free and fair elections should be recognised.

Last week Fiji's military rulers set September 17 as the date for the nation's first democratic elections since Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power in a 2006 military coup and installed himself as prime minister.

"There are now more than 500,000 people registered to vote in the September elections, electoral commissioners have been appointed and importantly Commodore Bainimarama has stepped down as the head of the military," Mr McCully said.

New Zealand will be ending all the remaining travel sanctions in place against Fiji.

"This is a continuation of our policy to support Fiji's return to democratic rule and reflects our close co-operation with Australia on matters relating to Fiji," Mr McCully said.