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who had Fijian heritage regardless of one’s ethnic background, was here, I had to come. I didn’t even have breakfast - just
religious and/or political affiliation. came straight here because I didn’t want to miss them.”
People also came to meet and hang out with filmmakers Dave Andrews said his daughter spoke Maōri and performed kapa
Lavaki and Tumeli Tuqota, and staff of the National Archives haka. As part of the “technology generation”, he said, most
of Fiji, Losena Tudreu and Aloisio Ranasoisoi. Lavaki, Tuqota, Fijian children may not be as interested in their history as their
Tudreu and Ranasoisoi were able to join us thanks to Fiji parents would like. “But when the service is brought to you like
Airways and the Pacific Knowledge and Culture Hub (PKCH) of this, this will help us parents affirm for them their Fijian identity
the University of Canterbury (UC). and links. This will have a big impact on our children, knowing
Apart from the main Fiji Day celebration, the four were and seeing documentation of stories we’ve passed on to them.
involved in other activities during their five-day stay. They had And when they come back home, they know who they are, the
talanoa sessions with local Fijians, screening Elections in why, and where they belong.”
Paradise, setting up a photography exhibition and a records Moneel Pratap is a born-and-bred Wellington man; although
table at each venue, including a day at the Christchurch City he now lives in Christchurch. His parents, Jiten and Babita,
Council. They were hosted by, and held talanoa sessions who are originally from Rakiraki, moved to Wellington in
with PKCH staff and students at the Macmillan Brown Centre 1987. At the Selwyn Sports Centre, Pratap provided basic
for Pacific Studies, and connected with fellow archivists and information to Tudreu, with his father in Wellington, connected
librarians. via telephone. After finding a possible match on the index
in front of her, Tudreu then communicated details to staff
on standby in Suva, who provided feedback and scanned
documents back in real time.
“The process was very easy and quick with the information
I gave her, was probably 15 minutes. They narrowed it
“ When they come back home, his immigration pass which had all the information: the boat
down very quickly,” Pratap said. “We were able to access

he was on, the exact year he came, his parents’ names, the
they know who they are, the
for us as you can imagine, and emotional, especially for my
why, and where they belong. district he came from, height, age, and fingerprint. It was huge
Dad.”
A total of about 60,000 people came to Fiji from India
- Carl Andrews ” between 1879 and 1916. While most came as indentured
labourers, there were also those, towards the latter part of the
period, who paid for their passage.

Past to present, present to future
For Tudreu and Ranasoisoi, it is the satisfaction of seeing
people leave with their questions answered, with documents,
or just happy they’ve started a process of finding out more
Historical context-setting about themselves that keeps them going. Ranasoisoi said
For Carl Andrews, citing his paternal (Waiqori, Oneata) and they gained so much more than just being able to provide
maternal links (Wainaloka, Ovalau) comes easily. Andrews’ services; both agree that this outreach tour affirmed that “there
mother traces ancestry to Malaita in the Solomon Islands, is demand for our services”. They also returned with a basket
through the horrific blackbirding period. He knew all of that, but full of lessons of how they can do things better.
on Friday, October 11th, he was able to trace a copy of a land Tudreu considers the establishment of connections
sale transaction from before Cession, which affirmed his place to Canterbury libraries and archives during the visit an
in his familial space, in Fiji. He said that as a part-European unexpected bonus.
man, he would often be told that their land was bought with a “This is a niche service area or field, and we do not often
bottle of rum, or a shovel. have the opportunity to meet colleagues. Really grateful to Fiji
“Au sa marau saraga! Today I saw, and now I have a record Airways and the Pacific Hub for enabling that, and to connect
of that land sale. My grandfather paid money for that land,” past to present for those who came with questions: what they
he said, speaking in iTaukei vernacular. “In Fiji, I never even get from us is evidence, helps them move into the future,” she
thought about going to the Archives, but when I heard a team said.

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