Former New Zealand lawyer Christopher Pryde was reappointed solicitor-general of Fiji on Tuesday by Fiji President Ratu Josefa Iloilo who abrogated the Pacific island country's constitution on April 10.

In a letter, Iloilo stated Pryde had been appointed solicitor- general pursuant to the State Services Decree 2009.

Pryde, who accepted his reappointment despite his countries opposition to the takeover, said on Tuesday it was important for Fiji that there was minimum disruption to government services and that continuity in the public service was maintained.

"It is vitally important at this time in Fiji's history that people assist the country in getting back on its feet and to a restoration of the rule of law," he said.

He took up the post despite comments from New Zealand Law Society President, John Marshall that lawyers should not accept office with a regime found to be unlawful.

"It seems paradoxical for the NZ Law Society President to say on the one hand that Fiji should be supported in its efforts to return to the rule of law as soon as possible but on the other hand to say that NZ lawyers should not assist with that goal by accepting office," Pryde said.

Pryde added that it was precisely at this time that Fiji needs good, competent lawyers to assist it and he was pleased that all the NZ lawyers working in the various Ministries and Departments in Fiji, have committed themselves to staying on and seeing the country through this difficult period.

"People can bury their heads in the sand and wish that things were otherwise but the fact remains that the President has acted to abrogate the Constitution and establish the Administration of Justice Decree 2009," he said.

"There is no getting away from that basic fact. What is important now is for Fiji to be kept on track and assisted to a restoration of the rule of law," he added.

Pryde said the reappointment of people, including lawyers, to government positions and judges to the judiciary is an important part of that process without which, the road will be longer and rockier.

On criticisms made by the Fiji Law Society to the political developments in the country since the Court of Appeal's ruling this month that the interim government was illegal, Pryde said, "While an independent legal profession has a hugely important role to play, the Fiji Law Society has been successively compromised over the last two years."

Pryde said the NZ Law Society would do well to listen to other voices from the legal profession in Fiji and not lawyers who have political agendas or have been active litigants in challenges to the previous government.

In a related development, eight resident Magistrates and a Chief Magistrate were appointed to Fiji's judiciary on Monday after a swearing in ceremony that was presided over by Iloilo.