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Elders’ stories: Pioneering power worker lauds renewables
| Leave a CommentBy Kite Pareti The use of renewables in Fiji has eased the load for Atunaisa Cawaki. The 69-year-old was a underground cable jointer for the-then Fiji Electricity Authority (now Energy Fiji Limited) between the 1970s and the 2000s. From Pacific Harbour to Labasa, Cawaki and a group of apprentices he supervised laid some of the […]
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Rugby legends host Australia-Fiji Vuvale Week
/ | Leave a CommentFijian rugby legends this week will host rugby activities in several schools and villages across Fiji. Former Wallabies Lote Tuqiri and Radike Samoa have joined Queensland Reds’ Joana Rabaka and Issac Henry in visiting particular schools that are being reconstructed in the north following the damages left by Tropical Cyclones Yasa and Ana. The team yesterday […]
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Super Rugby fans unite in the burning west
| Leave a CommentBy Alipate Pareti Paula Tuanoka, 62, travelled all the way from Dogotuki, Vanua Levu in the village of Vitina just to witness the Super Rugby spectacles of the Fijian Drua last Saturday. “This is the first time for me to come and watch the game live here at the grounds.” “I left Labasa on Friday […]
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Rafting the upper Navua
| Leave a CommentWords: Samantha Magick Photo: Zoomfiji It was not my most dignified moment. Instead of ‘leaning in’, I leaned back, and quickly found myself waist deep in the rapids of the Navua river. Fortunately, nothing was hurt except my pride. And our guide was very quick to haul me back into our raft, pulling me up […]
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Fiji on Film
| Leave a CommentLocal filmmakers finally getting screentime By Ben Wheeler “Every culture has the right and responsibility to present its own culture to its own people,” writes New Zealand filmmaker Barry Barclay. “That responsibility is so fundamental it cannot be left in the hands of outsiders, nor usurped by them.” These words seem more relevant in Fiji […]
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What we can learn from Ratu Sukuna’s legacy
/ | Leave a CommentBy Kite Pareti What are some of the lessons we can learn from the late Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna’s legacy? Fijian political sociologist and Vice-Chancellor Pacific at the University of Canterbury, Prof. Steven Ratuva reflected on the former statesman’s character and contributions at a well-attended seminar held at the University of the South Pacific in […]
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The life of Ratu Sukuna at the Fiji Museum
| Leave a CommentBy Kite Pareti “Fiji is what it is today because of the contributions of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna,” says Mere Delai, Assistant Head-Teacher of Marist Brothers’ Primary School. Delai who today took 60 of her students to see the Ratu Sukuna display at the Fiji Museum, says many children in Fiji have never heard of […]
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‘Tuna Bites’ for food security
| Leave a CommentBy Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti Tuna, a vital “blue food,” could be the answer to the Pacific’s growing challenge of food security. In an effort to highlight the significance of tuna as a source of protein in Pacific diets, the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Pacific Community (SPC) have organised the “Tuna Bites“ campaign, […]
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Naivilaca Peace Village cements its place in history
| Leave a CommentBy Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti Yesterday marked a special day for the descendants of the Girmityas in Fiji as they commemorated not only the shared pain of their history, but also the deep friendship that they share with indigenous Fijians. In a moving traditional ceremony in Naivilaca village in Noco, Rewa, home of the people who rescued […]
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Fiji Tourism Convention to be held in November
/ | Leave a CommentTourism Fiji says the Fiji Tourism Convention will be held on November 2nd this year. The Convention will be bringing together industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders to discuss and deliberate the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the sector. At the recent Fijian Tourism Expo 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka shared the importance of […]
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Disability is not a barrier
/ | Leave a CommentBy Alipate Pareti Fiji’s Naibili Vatunisolo is one of the best parasports athletes in the South Pacific region, having won a bronze medal in discus at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She acquired her disability after undergoing knee surgery in 2010. In 2017, she represented Fiji in the Fazza Para-Athletics Championships in Dubai, and […]
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Sabeto: Meditative mud
/ | 2 Comments on Sabeto: Meditative mudBy Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti The Sabeto hotspring and mudpool is a place of rejuvenation for both mind and body. Located midway between Nadi and Lautoka, it can be reached by driving along the Queens Road, and turning off where you see a sign for the Garden of the Sleeping Giant. Continue just past the Garden and look […]
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Fringe Benefits
/ | 3 Comments on Fringe BenefitsPart Two: Reflections of the Fiji Fringe with Sharleen Ali By Ben Wheeler Sharleen Ali is dynamic. She bristles with a creative energy that seems to produce so many thoughts a minute that if there was a way to convert them to electricity, her ideas could power a small village. It is this potency that […]
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For the love of rugby: Die-hard Fijian Drua fans
/ | 1 Comment on For the love of rugby: Die-hard Fijian Drua fansBy Alipate Pareti Seva Newton travelled from Vagadaci, Ovalau to watch the Fijian Drua prevail over the Hurricanes this weekend. The 64-year-old, loves to watch rugby and has been closely following the Fijian Drua this season. “I always come to watch the games. When they play in Lautoka, I go to Lautoka. I’m always there […]
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Nausori: History on the river
/ | Leave a CommentBy Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti Nausori was declared a town in 1931 but is rich in a history that started well before that time. It is the site of Fiji’s first sugar refining company, a place of remembrance for the people who died aboard the Syria and those who came to the rescue of passengers, and the […]
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TEDxNadi: Be a force for good
| Leave a CommentWhat more can be done and what can we do better? These were the questions posed by Akshay Singh, during his Ted talk in Nadi last February. Originally from New Delhi, India, Singh has played a key role in advancing sustainable tourism throughout the Pacific – in the Cook Islands, PNG and Fiji. “My greatest […]
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Rip Curl’s innovative lens on surf culture
| Leave a CommentRip Curl has launched the world’s first virtual surfing competition in partnership with Tourism Fiji. During the 10-day competition period, Rip Curl GPS users who logged a session had their data analysed and scored by a unique algorithm based on five criteria: distance paddled, surf time, total waves surfed, top speed, longest waves, and number […]
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Coca Cola Games 2023: Nasikawa Vision College
/ | Leave a CommentBy Alipate Pareti Seated right next to the Queen’s Highway along Viti Levu’s famous coral coast region, Nasikawa Vision College was well prepared and excited to participate in this year’s Coca Cola Games. Head Coach, Milio Raiyawalevu explained, “We did a lot of off-season training way back in December 2022 and January this year. We […]
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Coca Cola Games 2023: Koro, the man behind the wheel
/ | Leave a CommentBy Alipate Pareti Remember that small white medic vehicle with a stretcher bed that speeds into action every time there’s an injury on-field at the national stadium? Well, meet Setareki Koro, a 69-year-old man from Bucalevu, Nakorotubu in Ra. He is the man behind the wheel of that medic cart, and his sole responsibility is […]
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Coca Cola Games 2023: We can do better
/ | Leave a CommentBy Alipate Pareti All the way from the beautiful isles of Lau, Yasayasa Moala College was able to feature some of its best athletes for this year’s Coca Cola Games. The team’s initial reasons for coming to Viti Levu was for an educational expedition, not the track and field meet. Iliesa Draunidalo, a teacher at […]
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Nominees announced for FIRPA awards
| Leave a CommentBy Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti The 10th FIPRA (Fiji Performing Rights Association) Awards 2023 promises to be glamourous celebration of the original work of Fijian artists, filled with good food, good company, and amazing live performances. FIPRA’s Chairman, Eremasi Tamanisau, says “the awards celebrate the many different composers, vocalists, instrumentalist artists, recording engineers, and musicians for sustaining […]
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Bale showcases masi craft at Women’s Expo
| Leave a CommentBy Kite Pareti An elegant masi wedding dress hangs high on a frangipani tree for visitors to see. The designer, Asinate Bale, who hails from Nabasovi village in Koro island, says she has been pursuing her passion for five years. “I usually purchase my masi from Suva and I make clothes out of it like […]
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2023 Coca-Cola Games: It’s all about experience and learning
| Leave a CommentBy Alipate Pareti Coming from Vanua Levu, Holy Family Secondary School brings a very small contingent to this year’s Coca Cola Games. Team Manager, Roslyn Daurewa says, “We brought four athletes over and this is the first time for them to come and compete in the Coke Games, and I believe that is one big […]
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2023 Coca-Cola Games: Lomaivuna High School
/ | Leave a CommentBy Alipate Pareti Life is not easy training and living in the interior of Naitasiri, but the preparations of Lomaivuna High School for this year’s Coca Cola Games showcased the resilience of their students, teachers and parents. Lomaivuna High School is located about 30 km from Suva, right in the heart of the lush forests […]
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