Sanaka Samarasinha Photo:
A high-ranking United Nations executive in the Pacific has been temporarily stood down from his role after complaints of "unsatisfactory conduct" were received against him.
The Office of the UN Resident Coordinator to Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu says the head of the organisation Sanaka Samarasinha has been put on "administrative leave with full pay."
"Administrative leave is an administrative measure, and is not a disciplinary measure," the office said via a statement to RNZ Pacific on Thursday.
"The organisation received complaints of possible unsatisfactory conduct implicating Samarasinha, and this matter is currently under consideration and being taken very seriously.
It added: "All due process rights will be respected. Given confidentiality requirements, no other information on the process can be provided."
RNZ Pacific understands the UN chief's electronic devices have been confiscated and he has also been told to leave the country.
The UN office said Samarasinha's term as the resident coordinator was ending this year and his successor has already been selected and would be presented to the Fijian government "for the host country agreement".
Meanwhile, the regional representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for the Pacific Heike Alefsen has been appointed as the interim UN resident coordinator while investigations continue.
Samarasinha has been put on "administrative leave with full pay." Photo: UN