FIJI DYNAMICS - October 2020

FIJI

DYNAMICS

THE VOICE OF OF OUR COMMUNITIES

YEARS

1970-2020

A N N I V E R S A R Y

OCTOBER 2020 | NO.1 OCTOBER | 2020 FREE 1

T H E V O I C E O F O U R C O M M U N I T I E S

FIJI 50 YEARS LATER

Where

to now?

Where to now?

Roy Krishna: Proud

to be a Fijian

Page 32-33

Fiji’s own star In

Bollywood

Pages 30-31

Cash Prizes

to be won

Inside back cover

YEARS

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DYNAMICS THE VOICE OF OF OUR COMMUNITIES



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Contents

Where to

now?


One love

to unite us all

IF there's one thing in this

world that unites us all as

Fijian diaspora, it is the love

of the land we are born in or

have some attachment to - Fiji.

From the swaying coconut

palms, the white sandy beaches,

beaming smiles, the sugar cane

fields, the hardworking farmers,

the allure and beauty of our 3seas,

the maginficient outer islands,

bustling Suva, the vibrant cultures,

fusion of food, and the list

could go on ... it all compacts into

a gem of a country.

From the moment Prince

Charles handed over the Instruments

of Cession to Ratu Sir

Kamisese Mara 50 years ago, the

young Dominion of Fiji has always

risen to the fore to make its

mark in the world - and has been

mostly successful.

Then came the storm caused by

the military coups, the country

then teetered on the edge of an

abyss of unfathomable chaos.

She stumbled badly four times,

but did not fall, and has now just

managed to regain composure.

There was a lot of uncertainty

and fear.

It must be noted that the sons

and daughters of Fiji stayed

together and carried on. We

are a resilient lot, and Covid-19

gatecrashing the 50th Independence

Anniversary party will not

diminish the spirit in us.

It is this spirit that prompted

the Fiji Dynamics team to want to

celebrate, promote and cultivate

the good work being done by our

diaspora not just in New Zealand,

but throughout the world, hence

the birth of this magazine.

Fiji Dynamics is being put

together by a team of former

senior Fiji journalists now living

and working in New Zealand

with the sole aim of celebrating

our people.

This issue is dedicated to Fiji's

50th Independence Anniversary,

but future editions will be focusing

on other events in the community.

If you're keen to share your

stories, please do contact us - we

are looking forward to hearing

from you.

- the team at Fiji Dynamics - the

voice of our communities

FIJI DYNAMICS is published by The Whānau Community Trust from its offices located at 35 East Tamaki Road, Papatoetoe,

Auckland, Aotearoa-New Zealand and Printed by Horton Media Limited, Auckland.

Phone: 0800437686; Email : info@fijidynamics.com; Websites : www.fijidynamics.com; www.fijidynamics.online

All material appearing on our printed, web, mobile app, social media, downloadable and email editions are the copyright of

FIJI DYNAMICS. Reproduction in full or part in any medium is prohibited, unless expressly obtained from and approved by

FIJI DYNAMICS and/or The Whānau Community Trust. FIJI DYNAMICS and its management and staff do not accept any

responsibility for the claims made in news items and advertisements. Publisher: The Whānau Community Trust.

For Advertising, Subscription and Contribution enquiries: Phone 0800437686; Email: info@fijidynamics.com

NOTE: The views of contributing writers are not necessarily those of FIJI DYNAMICS. While FIJI DYNAMICS makes every

effort to ensure that no misleading claims are made by advertisers, responsibility cannot be accepted by FIJI DYNAMICS or The

Whānau Community Trust for the failure of any product or service to give satisfaction. Inclusion of a product or service should not

be construed as endorsement of it by FIJI DYNAMICS or The Whānau Community Trust.

Forging ahead as one nation ......................................7

Professor Steven Ratuva:

Reflections of the past 50 years ...........................8 & 9

Ruth Achari:

A shining example of service before self...........10 & 11

Tauranga kicks off celebrations..................................14

Faiyaz Khan: Military discipline serves him well.........15

Daren Kamali: Vunimaqo and Me..............................17

Dr Api Talemaitoga: Fiji has come of age ..................21

Phil Goff ........ ....................................................4

Sir Anand Satyanand .........................................5

Jenny Salesa......................................................6

Chandar Sen (NZFBC) ....................................12

Ibrar Sheikh (FIANZ) ....................................... 13

Messages

A loss of Fijian identity .......................................22 & 23

A KaiIndia’s search for identity in Aotearoa................23

Ajay Vasisht: Through a glass brightly ..............26 & 27

Aisha Bali: The force behind Radio Bula Masti .........29

Anil Rai Mani: Fiji's first in Bollywood ...............30 & 31

Roy Krishna: Proud to wear the Fiji jersey ........32 & 33

Waisale Serevi: A Fijian sports legend ......................34

Satya Dutt: On a mission to preserve culture ............36

Auckland Rotumans .........................................19

TISI Sangam (NZ)............................................ 25

Sachin Dutt (NZFFI)......................................... 28

NZ Punjabi Multi Media Trust................................. 35

St Joseph’s Secondary School NZ Alumnae......... 35

Cover images: Department of Archives, Fiji. Main picture, dancers at Albert Park, Suva, Prince Charles, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, October 10, 1970.

Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern.

Friends of Fiji....................................................18

Fiji Catholic Group.............................................40

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Best wishes to our

Fijian communities

Congratulations

due all round

by Phil Goff, Mayor of Auckland

Ni sa bula vinaka and namaste!

My warmest congratulations and greetings to Fijians

around the world, and to Auckland’s Fijian communities,

on the 50th anniversary of Fiji’s independence this

October.

Auckland is a proudly multicultural and multiethnic city, and our

Fijian communities play an important part in its economic success

and cultural vibrancy. The Fijian Village at Auckland’s Pasifika Festival

is well-known for its hospitality, music, art, dance, craft and

cuisine, and is always a highlight of this important festival.

New Zealand and Fiji share strong cultural, sporting and

economic ties, reflecting our common Pacific identity, and the

relationship between our two countries continues to grow.

Although we are experiencing many challenges this year as a

result of the Covid-19-19 crisis, I look forward to the resumption

of travel and tourism between our countries.

Once again, my congratulations on the 50th Anniversary of Fijian

independence and my best wishes for the rest of the year.

Phil Goff, Mayor of Auckland, Tāmaki Makaurau

by Sir Anand Satyanand GNZM, QSO, KStJ

AS someone linked on both sides of

my family to Fiji, I am delighted

to offer greetings on the 50th

Anniversary of the country

achieving its independence in October 1970.

Despite never having lived in Fiji, I have

maintained, over many years, links out of my

life as an erstwhile lawyer, judge, ombudsman,

governor-general and functionary of the

Commonwealth.

To celebrate a significant birthday last year,

three generations of my family spent a week

with me in Fiji, travelling the roads and visiting

friends and family in a number of places.

This enabled a pulse-taking of the country

in many settings – from a seminar/conference

about the girmitya legacy at the University of

Fiji, to seeing in action local enterprises in food

production and tourism, and visiting places

lived in by my grandparents in Sigatoka and

Suva.

In 1970, the notion of independence was

something new for a place that had functioned

as a colony of the United Kingdom for 146

years.

The former administration was of a

kind that placed emphasis on order and

administration ahead of business and

advancement of ordinary people.

Fifty years on, despite some stumbles with

maintaining democracy, Fiji has come to take

its place at the forefront of Pacific and wider

international affairs and as a tourist destination

for people from many parts of the world with

facilities and businesses to match.

The portent for the future is strong and

is present because of the goodwill people

elsewhere have for the country and its

inhabitants. Congratulations are due all round.

- Sir Anand Satyanand is a former Governor-

General of New Zealand who lives in semiretirement

in Wellington

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A celebration of resilience

Young nation

forging ahead as one

It hasn't all been plain sailing for Fiji for the past half century, but renewed

enthusiasm for stability points to better times ahead

Bula Vinaka! Namaste! Mālō e lelei!

tēnā koutou kātoa!

My congratulations to you all on

the anniversary of Fiji Independence

and, especially, to all people from Fiji in my

electorate of Manukau East.

This year marks a very significant date for

Fiji as it is now 50 years since Fiji became an

independent nation in 1970.

Fiji is very much in our thoughts this

week, as it is also the 8th official Fijian Language

Week in Aotearoa New Zealand.

It is a poignant moment to celebrate your

independence anniversary in the middle of a

worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

However, this anniversary is also a time to

reflect on the hardiness and spirit of all the

people of Fiji and to gather this strength to

overcome present afflictions and to create a

better future.

Bula vinaka and congratulations!

Honourable Jenny Salesa

Member of Parliment for Manukau East

A young Prince Charles prepares to hand over the Instruments of Cession to the first Prime Minister of

Independent Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. photo: Fiji Department of Archives

FIJI'S Independence from Great Britain 50 years

ago ignited a fresh new wave of social and

political consciousness after 96 years as a British

colony.

Self-determination under the watchful gaze of the Commonwealth

gave Fiji’s citizens an appetite for social change

and political empowerment.

Suva’s Albert Park on October 10, 1970, was teeming

with people of different races, religions and ages to witness

the country transition into the Independent Dominion of

Fiji.

Under sweltering heat thousands of young students

watched proudly as the Union Jack came down and Fiji’s

new emblems hoisted high in the sky.

Who can forget the flypast of war planes and the thunderous

volley of cannons and soldiers firing their rifles in

unison.

The Prince of Wales beamed proudly as the remnants of

colonial power slowly slipped into the hands of the citizens

of Fiji.

The population at the time was 500,563 and the quest for

education and employment saw Fijians of all races abandoning

their rural settlements for the bright lights of Suva.

Multiculturalism thrived in the cities while village communities

were content to while away their days farming,

fishing and looking after their families.

Fiji enjoyed exponential economic growth until 1987

followed by relative stagnation caused to a large extent by

political coups in 1987, a civilian putch in 2000 and another

military coup in 2006.

In the pages that follow you will find the stories of our

people who shared Fiji’s 50-year post independent journey

and those who will continue their own chapters in the next

50 years.

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Reflections for the past 50 years: Fiji’s challenges and hopes

Professor Steven Ratuva from the University of

Canterbury, New Zealand

Ratu Sir George Cakobau, high chief and first

local Governor-General of Independent Fiji, taking

over from Sir Robert Foster in 1973.

Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, high chief and also a

former Governor-General of Independent Fiji.

by Professor Steven Ratuva

I

VIVIDLY remember that memorable day,

10 October 1970, as a young village boy

attending Yale District School in Kadavu,

when the British flag was lowered for the

last time and the new sky blue Fijian flag with

its colourful design was hoisted high amidst

cheers and tears.

It was a moment of youthful hope and optimism,

and now 50 years later, I am reminiscing

and reflecting on a journey so full of intrigue

and challenges as well as resilience and hope.

Governments and constitutions have come

Two Fijian policemen on patrol in Suva, near what is now MHCC in the background. photos: Department of Archives, Fiji

and gone, either through democratic elections

or illegal use of force, but Fiji as a collective

of ordinary people living their ordinary lives,

remain the cornerstone of hope in a country

scarred by ethno-political tension, economic

inequality, contestation of power by competing

groups and abuse of authority by leaders.

Since independence, Fiji underwent a multiracial

experiment under Ratu Sir Kamisese

Mara, which saw two main contending forces,

communal nationalism (ethnic and cultural

groups demanding attention) and civic nationalism

(unity and common identity) competing

for supremacy in syncretic and complex ways.

There were moments of contractions and accommodation

taking place simultaneously and

by and large there was a sense of equilibrium

until the first coup in 1987 when communal nationalism

expressed itself in a seriously violent

way with the help of the military.

This was repeated in 2000. While the 2006

coup was meant to reverse the trend using

the fallacious “clean-up” narrative, it merely

entrenched an ethno-business and political

patronage under the tutelage of an all-powerful

despotic clique.

The neoliberal reforms which followed have

led to the dysfunction of the civil service, accumulation

of crippling debt, nepotism and the

formation of an ethnic clique system operating

under the guise of “merit” and “de-ethnicisation,”

which undermines the spirit of multiculturalism,

equity and diversity.

Despite these setbacks, the sense of shared

resilience and collective benevolence of the

people is a reason why we have not had an

ethnic civil war as we have seen in Rwanda,

Solomon Islands, Bosnia or Sudan.

While strategic manipulation and leveraging

of ethnicity as an instrument of political

mobilisation by political leaders, parties and

ethnic entrepreneurs may have to some degree

had the desired effect of winning votes, it did

not meet the minimum threshold to usurp the

strength of civic nationalism and thus spark an

open racial war.

The reason may be that despite being thwarted

by a series of coups and ethnic machinations

by leaders, the post-independence multiracial

experiment, despite its shortcomings, had some

positive impact in terms of entrenching a sense

of collective consciousness, although this is not

generally acknowledged.

It is true that at one level communal anxiety,

stereotypes and a certain degree of inter and

intra-ethnic distrust exist, at another level, the

collective spirit of civic-nationalism (as opposed

to communal nationalism) as manifested

in the euphoric inter-cultural support for the 7s

and 15 rugby teams, collective sense of belonging

and pride under the “Fiji” brand, common

adherence to the kava drinking culture and so

forth.

Independent Fiji is now 50 years old and the

journey has been one of mixed review, as film

critics would say. The people, not just the government,

have to make choices for the future,

not based on conspiratorial motives concealed

under appealing political narratives, but on the

aspirations of more than a million Fijians in Fiji

and around the world.

The challenges of the past 50 years have

helped to built up the people’s sense of uncompromising

resilience and cool sturdiness in the

face of adversity as we have seen in responses

to coups, climate change, cyclones, Covid-19,

economic crisis and political instability.

Their inventiveness and innovations such

as Barter for a Better Fiji, amongst others, are

indicative of the creative potential within our

people to connect, to think outside the box, to

transform and to provide workable alternatives.

Herein lies the hope for the next 50 years.

Half a century ago, as I watched the new

Fiji flag rise to the crescendo of applause and

cheers, I noticed with boyish curiosity and

innocence seagulls flying lazily circling the Yale

District School ground squawking loudly, as if

warning us about what they could see away in

the distant horizon.

Now 50 years later as I look back with a

bird’s-eye view of history and with adult eyes,

I can now see what the seagulls were probably

hinting - for a small country, Fiji has gone

through mindboggling andm at the same time,

reassuring challenges. Despite the tribulations,

we have survived and we will become even

more resilient than ever.

-Professor Steven Ratuva is Director of the

MacMillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies

at Canterbury University, Christchurch,

New Zealand.

We wish the people of Fiji a happy

50th anniversary on her

independence.

All the best for the future. God bless

Harry & Mehar Singh (QSM) Auckland

nido

Bula! NIDO

wishes to congratulate and celebrate

Fiji’s 50th Independence Day Anniversary

Vinod Kumar - Director of NIDO.

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Ruth Achari: A shining example of service before self

Ruth Achari receiving her Queens Service Medal in 1984 from then Governor-General Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau

Ruth Achari now after migrating to Brisbane, Australia

Ruth Achari hoisting the Fiji flag to mark Fiji’s

Independence at a ceremony attended by Prince

Charles at Subrail Park in Labasa, in October 1970.

Ruth Achari at Government House with her family after receiving her Queen’s Service Medal (from left)

daughter Angelin Achari, husband Jonathan Achari, Governor-General Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau and

daughter Veena Achari.

by Sam Thompson

I

received one as a nine- year- old.

I remember it was nice and shiny, attached

to a robin blue and red stripped ribbon, but

not much about what was written on it nor

what it represented.

It was my first medal, the Fiji Independence

Medal.

I did nothing for it but to exist.

I don’t know what became of that medal, I don’t

have it anymore.

But as a kid at school, we received it to mark

Fiji’s independence on October 10, 1970.

As a young St Mary’s Primary School student

in Labasa, I was handed a miniature Fiji flag on

a stick to wave as part of hundreds who lined the

main street of Labasa, to this European guy driven

in an open vehicle waving back at us.

I had no concept of royalty in those days - to be

honest still don’t.

But that I think, was Prince Charles’ one and

only visit to Labasa.

For my enthusiastic waving of that miniature

flag I received the shiny Independence Medal.

It was a symbol of cutting the shackles of British

rule and forging our own path in the international

arena as Fiji citizens and what a journey that has

been.

I don’t remember much of the pomp and ceremony

of that day apart from having lots to eat, but

one person who does was Mrs Ruth Achari.

She actually earned her independence Medal.

Achari was at the centre of events to mark the

occassion and was officially presented the medal.

She was an iconic figure in Labasa, achieved a lot

and earned tremendous respect in the community.

Achari was among those who greeted Prince

Charles on that sunny day 50 years ago.

She raised the Fiji flag as Prince Charles looked

on from a podium especially erected for dignitaries

on the grounds of Subrail Park.

Achari says she wasn’t expecting much for

herself from an Independent Fiji.

“I felt it was good, people had jobs and were

getting promotions,” she says.

“I don’t know whether people around me

were expecting anything big from the shift out of

colonial rule, I was doing my own thing, for me it

was normal.

“I was born during the colonial era, you had to

work hard, I kept on working hard even after independence,

nothing was given to me on a platter.

“I followed the example of my grandparents,

who were brought to Fiji under the indenture

system, and my parents, they were all every

hardworking.”

It wasn’t easy for her coming from a family of

Ruth Achari with Fiji military and police in a march past Prince Charles and dignitaries after the Fiji

Independence flag raising ceremony at Subrail Park in Labasa in October 1970.

seven girls and four boys - two of the brothers died

at an early age.

Achari packed a lot community service work

into her busy schedule as a school teacher and later

assistant head teacher at St Mary’s Primary School

and All Saints Primary School and head teacher of

Bethel Primary School where she started a unit for

the intellectually handicapped children.

She devoted much of her time to the Girl

Guides, becoming the Divisional Commissioner

for the organisation. She was also actively in

involved in the Red Cross Society.

Achari served on a number of boards in various

capacity as member, secretary and chairperson.

They included the Fiji Broadcasting Commission

Advisory Board, Board of Visitors Labasa

Hospital and Old People's Home, the Labasa Crippled

Children’s Society and Housing Assistance

and Relief Trust.

Not to be out-done in the sporting arena, she

represented Fiji in the New Zealand Dominion

Bowling Championships in 1978.

Achari was awarded the Queens Service Medal

in 1984 to add to her collection.

She was recommended for a Queens honour

by former MP and Roko Tui Macuata Ratu Josefa

Iloilo.

While there was recognition for her services

there was also tragedy.

Seventeen years after I was waving the miniature

Fiji flag ushering in the country’s independence,

I was witness to another historic event that

has changed Fiji’s landscape forever.

I was the editor of FM96 Radio Station at the

time.

On that fateful morning on May 14, 1987, I

was sitting at the press gallery in parliament when

the then Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka walked in with

his balaclava-clad armed men and kidnapped the

elected government members at gunpoint.

There was a mad scramble among the journalist

Prince Charles and dignitaries looking on from an

especially built podium at Labasa’s Subrail Park as

Ruth Achari raises the Fiji flag to mark Fiji’s Independence

on October 10th 1970.

to get to the nearest phone to tell the story of the

coup.

I charged out of parliament, bursting through

the batwing door at the entrance, only to come

to a screeching halt with a rifle digging into my

stomach.

Rabuka’s men in parliament were brandishing

pistols. It hadn’t occurred to me at the time

A dignified Ruth Achari as she was in 1970 after

playing a key role in Fiji’s Independence ceremony

attended by Prince Charles at Labasa’s Subrail Park.

that there would be more outside with a lot more

firepower.

I managed to convince the gunman that I was

just a journalist trying to get out of there and made

my way to the Ministry of Information next door,

used their phone to call the radio station to break

the story.

I remember putting to former Prime Minister

Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara at the time, how he felt

about the end of democracy as we know it.

His reply “which democracy, the United Nations

has 193 of them?”.

Well this new rule in Fiji also sparked violence

and increased crime especially break-ins and theft.

One of the victims, a few weeks after the coup,

was Ruth Achari.

Her house was broken into while they were

away and her medals stolen in the burglary including

the Independence medal.

The only medal, police managed to recover

around six months later, was her Queens Service

medal, worse for wear with the thieves trying to

scratch her name out.

She was told it was sold to an elderly woman.

But her symbol of Fiji’s independence, earned,

is now lost.

“The loss of the medals was disappointing and

disheartening,” she says.

“It had a lot of sentimental value, but it didn’t

take away the honour of being of service.

“It also didn’t deter me from carrying on with

my community work. I continued to work with

Girl Guides and the Anglican Church.

“I believe in service, doing whatever you can

and as much as you can without seeking reward.”

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Strengthening the

bond of business

by Chandar Sen President NZFBC

Kia Ora

On behalf of the New

Zealand Fiji Business

Council, I congratulate

Fiji Dynamics and the team of

senior Fijian journalists and media

personalities, who now live and

work in New Zealand on their

initiative in launching this magazine

dedicated exclusively to unite

the Fijian community, through

promoting the Fijian diaspora's

views, identity and culture.

There is a definite place for a

magazine like Fiji Dynamics and

I am sure this will be welcomed

by the Fijian diaspora not only all

across New Zealand, but back in

our motherland Fiji.

Likewise, I am sure it will be

embraced by the other communities

and the New Zealand public

at large given the strong links,

including trade and business links,

New Zealand Fiji have.

And what better time to launch

this but the celebration of Fiji’s 50

years of independence.

Trade between our two

countries - New Zealand and

Fiji - goes back a long way and is

one of those things that has kept

the two countries connected in an

inseparable manner.

The New Zealand Fiji Business

Council was established more

than 30 years with the importance

of retaining a line of communication

for business at all times,

irrespective of the government of

the day.

The New Zealand Fiji Business

Chandar Sen, president of the

New Zealand Fiji Business Council,

is urging other businesses to

join and reap the benefits.

Council works closely with its

counterparts in Fiji – the Fiji

New Zealand Business Council.

The business council is well recognised

at government level both

in New Zealand and Fiji.

In fact, the business council

has retained its credibility with

successive governments and has

continued to provide that line

of communication our founder

members so earnestly sought to

ensure more than three decades

ago.

The membership is diverse

and consists of companies from

sole traders to publicly listed

companies and across a range

of sectors. Many member companies

of the business council have

been actively involved in business

and investment in Fiji.

The business council provides

an excellent forum for networking

and undertakes a number of

member events throughout the

year. The business council will be

holding its AGM on October 30

with an enlightening speaker from

the NZIER.

Many of the events are member-only

events and I invite those

who are not already members to

join and take advantage of the

many benefits that come with it.

Membership application package

can be obtained by contacting our

secretariat at nzfbc@chamber.

co.nz or by visiting

www.nzfiji.org/

Various prime ministers and

ministers from both New Zealand

and Fiji have recognised and

noted that there is absolutely no

doubt the council has contributed

and continues to contribute

significantly towards the business

relationships between the two

countries, which has already

surpassed One Billion dollars

in two-way trade in goods and

services.

This makes Fiji one of New

Zealand’s top 20 trading partners

internationally. The Fiji Dynamics

magazine will no doubt provide

another forum for the business

council members to showcase

their products and services and to

help grow the trading relationship

to Two Billion by 2025.

On behalf of the New Zealand

Fiji Business Council, I wish Fiji

Dynamics every success.

- Chandar Sen is President of the

New Zealand Fiji Business Council

A sincere wish for progress

and prosperity

Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatoh

(Peace and Blessings Upon You)

Ibrar Sheikh, President, FIANZ

On behalf of the Muslim community

in New Zealand, it is my honour

and privilege to congratulate the

team at Fiji Dynamics on the inaugural

issue of a new monthly magazine.

It is also pleasing to note that the first

edition of the Fiji Dynamics will be issued

to coincide with Fiji’s 50th Independence

Day Anniversary. It is timely that

a magazine will be available to the Fiji

diaspora living in New Zealand to update

themselves of the news and progress of

their beloved country.

The Fiji community is the largest in

New Zealand. Although we have accepted

New Zealand as our home, we are still Fijians

in our hearts. We are hardworking and

resourceful and have contributed much to

the world.

On this auspicious occasion of the

50th Anniversary of Fiji, all Fijians can

justifiably be proud of their country for Fiji

has achieved great strides in economy and

social wellbeing of its people.

I wish the President, Prime Minister, the

Government and the People of Fiji, good

health, happiness and continued progress

and prosperity.

I also wish Fiji Dynamics every success

in your endeavour.

Thank You

Wassalaam

Ibrar Sheikh, President, The Federation of

Islamic Associations of New Zealand

www.xdigital.co.nz

Bula Fiji! Congratulations on your

50 years of Independence

Brand Your Business and Get More Customers

by Driving More Traffic and Retargeting 100% of

all your Website Visitors

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Tauranga sets the mood for celebrations


Military discipline

by Sam Thompson

serves Khan well

THE city of Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty

is not the first place you would think

would be celebrating Fiji’s Independence.

But that’s exactly what’s happening.

Faiyaz Mohammed Khan was a 13-year-old student at Marist Brothers at Suva St on

The growing Fiji community here has decided to

October 10, 1970. He remembers Prince Charles had come to Albert Park and it was very hot. One of the

mark the occasion.

highlights was watching three people descending on the crowd on parachutes.

There will be a big celebration to mark Fiji’s

Watching the Union Jack come down and the Fijian flag raised by Sergeant Major Maciu Vakaciwa was memorable for

50th Independence anniversary on October 10th.

the young Khan. His decision to join the Royal Fiji Military Forces when he turned 18 brought him

It’s the first time people from Fiji in the area

in contact with Sergeant Major Vakaciwa.

are hosting a celebration to commemorate Fiji’s

independence.

NOT many of us have had the privilege of visiting Britain’s

Behind the move is Patrick Rounds, originally

Pitcairn Island let alone supervise five inmates on the

from Kulukulu, Sigatoka, but he spent most of his

island’s only prison.

time in Nadi, before moving to New Zealand in

Former senior Mt Eden Corrections Officer Faiyaz Mohammed

Khan spent six months on Pitcairn Island in 2008 as Prisons

2008 at the age of 30.

Initially he moved to Wairarapa, spent a stint in

Superintendant leading a team of four.

Martinborough before moving to Tauranga seven

Pitcairn is a British colony that’s administered by New Zealand and

years ago.

its current population of 52 are modern day descendants of the nine

Rounds works as a Youth Pastor at the Te Puke

mutineers on board the HMS Bounty in 1790.

Baptist Church and he’s a mentor for all the pacific

“If I didn’t do military training in Fiji it would have been very hard

island students at Te Puke High school.

Organising committee for the Fiji Day Celebration: From left, closest to camera, Kamal Nair, behind him

He also works with seasonal workers who come Patrick Rounds, Ben Lasaqa, Aisea Tamani, Joe Vukicanasau.

because its 48 hours from Tahiti by boat and you’re surrounded by

the ocean and in two metre square and that’s your life for the next six

here from the islands to work in the agricultural “We have also invited other seasonal workers “We are in the early stages of starting a Fiji Community

Trust,” he says.

“All we did was make sure the medical facilities were good, the

months, very little contact with the rest of the world,” Khan says.

sector picking fruit.

who are stranded here because of covid 19.

“There was 20 seasonal workers from Fiji when “This is the first time Fiji workers are still here, “We feel we are quite fragmented here, and it’s

footpaths were clean, drainage was good, there was enough firewood,

they first arrived in the Bay of Plenty in 2015, now usually they are back home in Fiji around this very easy to stay that way, so we decided we should

rubbish had to be collected.”

that number has grown to more than a hundred, time.

do something about it.

“There was no TV, only videos that came on the supply ships which

“says Rounds.

“We’ve other seasonal workers from Vanuatu, “Even if it’s things like when Fiji’s playing rugby,

came every three months. They brought onions, potatoes and all that

He says he floated the idea of commemorating Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and we could meet at a bar somewhere or have a

sort of thing but if you ran out that’s it you did without,” Khan says.

Fiji’s Independence with a group of fellow Fijians Tonga.

barbecue at somebody’s house and have a reason

“One thing that was plentiful was fish, so it was fish for breakfast,

and after wider consultation they decided to go “There are also some people from Kiribati who for a gathering.”

lunch and dinner very nice tropical fish.”

ahead with it.

are good volleyball players.”

Divulging any scandalous details about the five inmates runs

“We approached the Pacific Islands Community

Trust for some funding and businesses who and address from dignitaries including the Te The Day's programme

The programme kicks off at 9am with a prayer

against the grain for Khan who spent three decades rising up the

ranks in New Zealand’s Department of Corrections.

employ the seasonal workers,” says Rounds. Puke Board chairman and they are hoping Bay of Venue: Te Puke Baptist Church,

Khan is one of a handful of internationally accredited boxing umpires

and his love of rugby and soccer draws him close to the tight knit

He says they have a fun filled day planned, Plenty MP Todd Muller can find some time from

8:30am to 2pm.

catering for kids and adults.

election campaigning to join them.

Free Health Checks

Fiji soccer circuit in Auckland.

It will be held at the Te Puke Baptist.

“We are working with the Pacifika students to

Rounds says the facilities of the church has provided

an opportunity to include games for people for one of the walls of the venue,” says Rounds. Games in the gym for grown ups

create a timeline of Fiji from British rule to today Kids' Fun Programme

“Sports brings our people together and there is always good support

for our boys when they come through. I have been involved in

the disciplinary side of Fiji sports and I notice there has been a lot of

to participate in.

“It will be interactive with space provide for Food (Curry, Palau, Chop Suey, and Lovo)

improvement in recent years.

“We will have football, netball and volleyball people to add what they think is relevant that has 50th Anniversary Cake

He spent three years in Fiji military and later worked as an agent's

competitions,” says Rounds.

been missed.

Chief Guest

Customs officer at the Suva Wharf before moving to New Zealand in

“There will also be kids activities including a “A prominent figure in the Tauranga Fijian

Bouncy Castle

1986.

bouncy castle, face painting and games like the old community Aisea Tamani will be presenting a

fashion sack race back in Fiji.

talk on the Fiji Independence Day History and the The colour theme is come in white or blue.

“It wasn’t easy fitting into the prisons service here and there were no

“And where will an occasion like this be without journey until today.

It's certainly a good time to celebrate and

Fijians working as prisons officers at the time. You had to work hard

to prove your worth within the first five years.”

food ? There will island and Indian cuisine and of “There will also be a free health check set up for come together and get to know other

Several decades on Khan continues to give back to the country of

course a lovo.

people attending to take advantage of.”

people.

his birth. He bought a sugar cane farm in 2009, which is now managed

by the Fiji Sugar Corporation.

Former senior Mt Eden Corrections Officer Faiyaz Mohammed Khan.

“We are not charging anyone for the food, it will Rounds hope this Fiji Independence celebrations

will be a catalyst for other events to get Fiji

If you want to bring something towards the

all be free. The aim is for everyone to enjoy the day

event, bring some baking for morning

together.

people in the Bay of Plenty together.

Congratulations

Fiji, the land, and the people-on your

50th Anniversary of

Independence

Bula Vinaka

Best wishes for 50th Independence Day

Anniversary

May Fiji be Blessed always...

Kushma Nair - Director

YEARS

YEARS

1970-2020

1970-2020

16 FIJI

OCTOBER 2020

FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 17





Kia ora, Ni sa Bula, Cola Vina, Namaste, Noa’ia e Mauri, Assalamualaikum, Namaskaram,

Ni Hao, Sat Sri Akal, Halo, Mauri, Malo e Lelei, Talofa Lava, Greetings

Distribution of Free Masks at the Whānau Community Centre last month – a joint project by Papatoetoebased

Fiji Groups

The Whānau Community Centre

was setup to help all communities

with advice and support.

It is indeed a privilege to be able

to celebrate with our Fiji Communities on

the 50th anniversary of Fiji’s independence.

The initial focus of the Centre is to

include our diverse Fiji Community groups

as part of this collective.

It will become the Community Centre

for Fiji people.

And it is fitting for the Centre to support

the publishing of a magazine that is the

“Voice of our Communities”.

Plus at the same time, for the first issue,

to acknowledge this milestone in Fiji’s journey

as a young nation.

The Whānau Community Centre hopes

to help inspire our communities, through

promoting our views, identity and culture.

And further enhance our rich diversity

and multi-cultural heritage.

The Centre is used for the gatherings of

our elderly people to enjoy themselves.

And a space for our children to grow and

be empowered.

The Centre recognises all different

ethnicities and serves people from all walks

of life.

With your support, the Whānau Community

Centre and FIJI DYNAMICS will

become the hub of our Communities.

Some of the Community Seminars & Programmes include :

• Leadership Training – capacity building, political representation

• Elderly – get-togethers, lunch and learn, seminars on well-being, estate planning

• Family Violence – prevention programmes, education awareness

• Mental Health – awareness, suicide prevention, support

• Family Support Services – family well-being, children’s programmes

• Financial Literacy – budgeting, mind my money for children, smart shopping

• Housing – ownership programmes, support

• Migration – immigration, settlement support

• Alcohol and Drug Abuse – support, awareness

• Children’s’ Programmes – extra tuition classes, financial literacy, trips and events

• Food Bank Service – food parcels, community meals, cooking classes

• Media Publishing – awareness, translations, support

• Business – entrepreneurship, mentoring, advice

by Darren Kamali

Vunimaqo sits on the front yard

We sit together

Blessed family home

Home to Nana Emma and Papa Polito

We prayed together

We use to pray together

What should happen when Nana Emma goes?

I will miss Nana dearly

Thou shalt never forget

Cause Polito will not

We used to fly kites together, you and me

What has happened to the children nowadays?

Where has the tropical sun gone?

The Samabula North spirit gone?

Where is my brown skin?

Harvest season

Fresh kakana

Papa’s teitei

Papa on his typewriter

Yummy lovo

Buried not so deep in the vanua

Saturday kana from the wai-tui

Kuita – ika – qari - lumi

My heart long for -

One last day with my Nana

Nana Emmaline

Miss how close we were

You - watching over us

Samabula North is -

How we supposed to be

Aunties - uncles – family and friends

No matter how extended we may be eh?

Vunimaqo

and Me

Daren Kamali

You know

We all related

Can we be like that forever?

Miss those laughs

All my cuzzies

Spread out across the world

Jokes with nephews - nieces

All grown and moved on

My eyes crave one more night of sleep

On your sitting room floor at 27 Tubou Street Nana

One more night around the tanoa

We talanoa on the back porch

Smell of mosquito coil burning red hot

Brings back fond memories

One more afternoon of cool breeze

Under the Vunimaqo with you Nana

Sipping on a young coconut Bu

Like the iTaukei say -

Eat its flesh

Fresh for the strengthening of the -

Mind - body - spirit

Drink its ka vinaka

Just one more golden moment

Last box of Fiji Gold for us - bros

One more bowl of yaqona

One more night of nana’s prayers

No more fights

No more worries

Neighbours speak in Fijian - English

Top of their voice

Top of the morning

Would like to hear that again

Clapping hands - laughter and songs

Stories of Uvea mo Futuna

Vila Maria - Mead Road

Do not go there grandson

Papa Ipolito’s voice fills the room -

Filling this tranquil space -

Vunimaqo

In my heart

Follows me overseas

Growing in me

My routes

My roots

Leads me home

To Vunimaqo

Wherever I go

Whatever I do

There shall we always be –

Together…

Vunimaqo and Me

Daren Kamali is

Poet/ Heritage Adviser Pacific -

Auckland Libraries

Bula Fiji. Congratulations on 50 years of Independence

Raj Chand – Director

www.abcsolutions.co.nz

YEARS

YEARS

1970-2020

1970-2020

18 FIJI

OCTOBER 2020

FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 19





Friends of Fiji Heart:

Making a life-changing difference in Fiji

Wishing all a

joyous 50th

Friends of Fiji Heart Foundation founder Dr Parma Nand, cardiac thoracic surgeon, leads his team of specialists to perform heart surgeries in Fiji.

THE Auckland Rotuman Fellowship

Group Incorporated wishes to take say

congratulations to Fiji Dynamics for

the achievement in putting together a

magazine to celebrate Fiji’s 50th Independence

Anniversary.

We congratulate Fiji and Rotuma on 50 years of

independence.

Our group, ARFGI, focuses on sharing and promoting

our unique Rotuman culture and language

with the rest of the world.

We teach our children the importance of their

identity and language, by hosting Rotuman Language

and Cultural classes every Saturday.

And we started the Rotuman Language Week

series in 2018, and also the Rotuman Fui Helava

Community Awards last year.

Our Rotuman people are a separate ethnic

group with our own distinct language, culture, and

identity.

We originate from the Polynesian Island of

Rotuma, which is very much a part of Fiji, and is

administered by Fiji as a dependency.

The majority of Rotuman people live in Fiji.

Rotuma consists of the island of Rotuma and its

nearby islets, and is located in the middle of the

Pacific Ocean, about 500km north of Fiji.

Rotuma was annexed by the British in 1881,

and so we also gained our independence from the

Faga Fasala

British Empire in 1970, as part of Fiji.

We would like to thank the New Zealand

government and all different communities

in supporting the ARFGI group

and all Rotumans living in Aotearoa.

We wish everyone a blessed and joyous

celebration.

And we pray that our good Lord will

continue to bless us and keep us safe.

Alalum ma hanisiof

- Faga Fasala is chairperson of the

Auckland Rotuman Fellowship

Group Inc

FRIENDS of Fiji Heart Foundation

expresses its sincere gratitude to Fiji

Dynamics for the opportunity through

its first publication, to acknowledge the

contributions made by the Fijian diaspora.

Over the past 14 years, the foundation has

benefited immensely from the support received by

businesses, professionals, and the general public

of Fijian diaspora, which have some life-changing

difference to hundreds of Fijian families through

heart-related treatments not available in Fiji.

In dollar terms, to date around $20 million

worth of treatment has been delivered for free.

The foundation is a brainchild of Dr Parma

Nand, well recognised cardiac thoracic surgeon,

supported by a board of trustees who have

provided valuable administration, logistical and

operational support, without cost.

We send our best wishes and congratulations

for the initiative taken to recognise the

contribution made by the Fijian diaspora through

Fiji Dynamics.

YEARS

YEARS

1970-2020

1970-2020

20 FIJI

OCTOBER 2020

FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 21





Fiji Community Association of Auckland. Bula Early Childhood Education Centre

Fiji

has come of age

Fiji-born health clinician Dr Apisalome Talemaitoga sits on New Zealand's Covid-19 Surveillance and Testing Strategy Group.

He has been part of New Zealand's hardline response to Covid-19 since March as the Pacific voice advising the

Minister for Health and part of the Pacific health response team.

These are Dr Talemaitoga’s recollections from Fiji’s Independence in 1970.

For Fiji, ever Fiji

Ni Sa Bula Vinaka! Namaste! Noa'ia 'e

Mauri!

What a milestone it is to celebrate Fiji's

50th year of Independence. We, the

Fiji Community Association of Auckland (FCAA)

and Bula Early Childhood Education Centre (Bula

ECE Centre) extend our heartfelt regards and warm

wishes to all people and communities of Fiji.

For many of us who now live in various parts

of the world, Covid-19 has amplified the distance

between us and our loved ones.

We have been forced to consider other means

and platforms to communicate with one another,

to learn, and also, to earn a living. We have had to

adapt within our environment, in order to survive.

Fiji has also seen her share of changes, fractures

and remoulding over the last 50 years. Yet, she

continues to adapt in her environment.

She continues to grow. She is resilient. She is a

survivor. Covid-19, whilst it may have gate-crashed

our 50th party, it has not dampened our desire to

celebrate Fiji in all her splendour.

For the FCAA, during this past 2020 term, our

focus has been to rebuild and to provide oversight

and support of the Bula Early Childhood Education

Centre (Bula ECE Centre), New Zealand's only

Fijian early childhood centre. The Bula ECE Centre

is situated in Mangere, South Auckland, and is

licensed for 30 children but has maximum capacity

to cater for 50 children. Our children are of Fijian,

Rotuman, Indo-Fijan, Tongan and Samoan backgrounds

with a small dedicated team of teachers.

As we head into a week of acknowledging our

precious Fijian language and culture, our children

have been preparing steadily for their performances

and activities.

It is an exciting time for our Fiji community,

which we are grateful to be a part of.

For Fiji, Ever Fiji!

- Lisa Samusamuvodre, secretary Fiji Community

Association of Auckland

- Nirshad Rokodi, manager, Bula Early Childhood

Centre, Mangere

Community Seminars: coming up throughout the year

Subscribe now for more information.

And stay in touch at

www.whanau.org.nz

Family Matters . Immigration . Leadership . Elders . Wills & Trusts . Home Ownership

I

WAS 10 years old attending school in Lami. My

parents were school teachers at the Seventh Day

Adventist School at the SDA headquarters.

We didn’t have TV then,but I remember the

papers mentioning Prince Charles and the late Ratu

Sir Kamisese Mara working through the process of

Fiji gaining independence.

If I am correct, in 1969 I think the money currency

changed from shillings and pounds to dollars and

cents.

I don’t think it really hit me what independence

meant to us as a country. Somebody had written an

opinion piece in the Fiji Times at the time which said

“About time because Fiji was now 96 years old, an

old man". Was it 1874 when Fiji was ceded to Great

Britain?

But we did it and as a country it’s been amazing.

We’ve had our differences - people have had different

opinions as to whether we’ve done well or not, but I

think as a country Fiji has really come of age.

I went to Fulton College in Tailevu before Marist

Brothers High School, then first year med at the University

of the South Pacific. That year, three overseas

scholarships were on offer and two of my classmates

got scholarships to go to India and Scotland and I got

Dr Apisalome Talemaitoga.

the one for University of Otago in Dunedin.

There was no choice, we were told where we were

going and that was it.

I was 18 when I first came to New Zealand to study,

graduated in 1986, then worked here for three four

years before going back to Fiji in 1989.

I was always going to go back. I thought I would

stay on get additional qualifications as a consultant

physician. I even thought about psychiatry in mental

health but because of the military coup in 1987 Fiji

lost a whole lot of doctors.

All of us who were studying overseas and had qualified

were asked to return home sooner. I didn’t mind

I’ve always thought I would return home.

I think Fiji has done really well and I think they can

continue to improve. Fiji has always struggled a bit

with resources and the health workforce.

The doctors and nurses I’ve worked with in Fiji are

some of the hardest working people I know. They

work so hard to do so well with so little for the people.

Fijians in general have a reasonably good level of

education and understanding of good health.

We are broadminded because we have been exposed

to good race relations with people of different races

and cultures.

YEARS

YEARS

1970-2020

1970-2020

22 FIJI

OCTOBER 2020

FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 23





A loss of ‘Fijian’ identity … or no identity at all in Aotearoa

Who am I? The KaiIndia’s search for identity in

Aotearoa

by Sri Krishnamurthi

When a New Zealand youth, an eighth

generation Indo-Fijian, recently

spoke out against education policies

that exclude some Pacific Island

people from Pasifika programmes and scholarships

as unfair, he did not realise he was opening that hoary

debate that goes back to 1879.

It was the year Indian indentured labourers were

introduced to the Pacific with the first forebearers

being brought aboard the Leonidas and have proliferated

since becoming part of the diaspora, or in Aotearoa

NZ case became part of the double diaspora.

Between 1879 and 1916, 87 voyages were made by

40 ships by the British bringing in the “Girmityas” or

the people of the "Agreement".

As the venerable Professor Vijay Naidu of the

University of the South Pacific in Suva attests to

that: “Indo-Fijians or Fiji Indians or Fijians of

Indian descent are descendants of the 60,500 British

Indian indentured labourers who were transported

between 1879 and 1916 to establish and work on the

plantations of sugar, coconut, banana, tea, and rubber

and sugar mills owned the Australian Colonial Sugar

Refining Company."

As he says these Girmityas lived in “lines”

comprising of single rooms and worked in atrocious

conditions in which has been called a new system of

slavery, and "narak'' or hell.

“In Fiji, their roots lay in cultivating the land as

small holder tenant farmers in mainly indigenous Fijian

owned land. There has been more than a century

of this relationship with iTaukei, mostly co-operative

and beneficial, and occasionally conflictual,” as Naidu

points out.

Through the 100 years and more they managed

to reinforce their culture and religions while doing

away with caste system and gone too were dowry for

marriages.

Indo-Fijians have migrated to other parts like New

Zealand, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and the

United States - all for a better life.

However, so too are the iTaukei, all in search of

new opportunities using both military service and

rugby as a means to settle abroad.

But it is the better of two pursuits that makes for a

good Fijian – iTaukei or Indo-Fijian.

As children’s book author Ryan Gounder believes

all young people need role models to look up to.

Gounder, who was born and raised in Fiji and now

lives in New Zealand, is writing a new series, starting

with Rugby Superheroes Volume One, published in

Fijian with English translations this year.

In Fiji, rugby players are like superheroes for many

children and the lessons they teach us can strongly

“No matter how we come to be in Fiji, or how long we have been here ...we all are

part of the land. It is the land of our birth or land of our adoption,

the land to which we belong.”

– the late Archbishop Petero Mataca

Sitiveni Rabuka (Photo Credit: Asia-Pacific Report)

Ryan Gounder. (Photo Credit:Fiji Times)

impact children in the community, says Gounder.

“We need to develop more tangible resources for

our young Pacific people that resonates with their

identity as Pasifika people, and which will empower

them and help develop resilience to be the 'best

versions of themselves' - a famous phrase often using

within the Rugby Sevens circles in Fiji,” says Ryan,

whose first name resonates with Ben Ryan, the coach

of the winning rugby sevens team in Brazil in 2016.

The irony of Ryan Gounder is that he is the recipient

Languages Innovation Fund set up by the Ministry

of Pacific Peoples, despite being an Indo-Fijian. I

will come back to that later in this article.

However, the iTaukei, in the process of seeking

better opportunities for their children and themselves

too have lost their identity as they pursue the all

mighty dollar.

Professor Vijay Naidu (Photo Credit: Asia-Pacific Report)

Roko Tupou Draunidalo (Photo Credit: Asia-Pacific Report)

While language remains one of the strongest sense

of identity, so too are culture and religion that makes

a person know where his or her Turangewaewae

(standing place) is.

“In the Fijian community, it is often discussed at

our annual gatherings how language is being lost,”

Gounder says of the more serious discussion around

the kava bowl.

It is not just the loss of language, but traditional

culture that displaces the iTaukei and the Indo-Fijian,

who has had adopt new ways to cope with being in a

new environment.

While the proponent of the coups in Fiji in 1987,

which caused thousands of Indo-Fijians to emigrate,

making them a minority in Fiji once more, Sitiveni

Rabuka tried to reconcile with a democratic constitution

review with joint sponsorship of the bill with the

No matter where we are in the world,

October the10th is always a day to remember.

Congratulations Fiji and fellow brothers on our

50th Independence Day

leader of the opposition, Jai Ram Reddy,

in 1997.

“It was unfortunate that the 1997 constitution

was unilaterally revoked in July

2009 by the (Voreqe) Bainimarama-led

military regime,” Rabuka wrote in a

column in the Fiji Times in the lead-up

to the 2018 election.

“For me personally I have three reservations

about the adoption of the 2013

constitution of 'Fijian' as our common

name.

“Firstly, the people were never

consulted. It was imposed just like the

Bainimarama regime’s repudiation of

the 1997 constitution and the abolition

of the Great Council Chiefs (GGC) the

Bose Levu Vakaturaga in 2012.”

His second reservation was the

allowing of dual nationality which, he

said, diluted patriotism even if it paved

the way for reversing of the brain drain

which took place after his 1987 coups.

The third reservation was most concerning

for him was that which ignored

the group rights of the indigenous

iTaukei and Rotuman people.

To him it was unacceptable, as he says,

that the 2013 constitution presumed

there was no differentiation between the

people.

“For an indigenous iTaukei to be

called a Fijian means more than being a

Fijian citizen. It means being registered

in the iTaukei Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB)

as a member of a customary landowning

Mataqali. Traditionally, each Fijian

villager is born into a certain role in the

family unit or Tokatoka. Various heads

of the family will administer and lead the

family unit within the village community.

Each chief of the village will in turn

lead the people to fulfill their role to the

Vanua.

Each village will have several family

units / Tokatoka which are part of one

clan or Mataqali. Several Mataqali will

make up the larger tribe or Yavusa. Several

Yavusa will belong to a certain land

mass and comprise thereby the Vanua

(confederation of Yavusa)..

Dr Asesela Ravuvu (1983) describes

the Vanua as: The living soul or human

manifestation of the physical environment

which the members have since

claimed to belong to them and to which

they also belong. The land is the physical

or geographical entity of the people,

upon which their survival...as a group

depends. Land is thus an extension of

the self. Likewise, the people are an

extension of the land. Land becomes

lifeless and useless without the people,

and likewise the people are helpless and

insecure without land to thrive upon.

Therein lies the dilemma for the

iTaukei who no longer recognises the

Mataqali he or she belongs to in Aotearoa

New Zealand having been away from

the family clan.

With that comes the loss of identity

and a reversion and accession to the

Western World and hence that brings its

own problems.

As Niuean Dr Colin Tukuitonga, who

left Fiji after the 1987 coup, assesses:

“People feel disconnected from their social

norms and traditional values, family

connections are disturbed and of course

that is almost an inevitable consequence

that young people in particular would

turn to drugs and crime. That is why I

see languages as a protective element for

our people.”

The impacts of the loss identity can

be devastating, but HOPE party leader

Roko Tupou Draunidalo, stepdaughter

of the 1987 Prime Minister, the late

Timoci Bavadra, has a different take on

the subject.

“I am otherwise of the view that every

Fijian born in Fiji or anywhere in the

Pacific or with Fijian ancestry that lived

in the Pacific with Pacific cultures and

interactions is Fijian and therefore a Pacific

Islander,” she says with conviction.

“iTaukei have not lost their culture, it

is alive and well and you need to go any

village or iTaukei home to realise that.”

However, that is not case in New Zealand,

that Ryan Gounder was recognised

for his work by the Ministry of Pacific

Peoples despite being Indo-Fijian is a

rarity rather than the norm.

The search for the Indo-Fijian identity

will require an act of Parliament so that

they differentiated from South-East

Asian Indians.

Currently they have to tick the Indian

box in the census and aren’t recognised

by some universities as Pasifika peoples.

As Professor Vijay Naidu explains: “In

response to a letter from Lorraine Pillay

in early 2000 which inquired whether

Indo-Fijians were ‘Pasifika’, the then PM

Helen Clark’s office responded strongly

in the affirmative."

Pillay raised this identity question

when she was told in a Wellington workshop

for senior teachers and principals of

secondary schools that Indo-Fijians were

not eligible for scholarships, etc as they

were not considered to be "Pasifika".

In sharp contrast to this standpoint,

when I joined Victoria University of

Wellington, Pasifika staff and students,

and the wider community welcomed me

as a "Pasifika" person.

As Professor Brij Lal has stated, "generations

of living in Fiji have changed

our identity and outlook. We are indeed

children of the ‘Pacific’.”

- Sri Krishnamurthi has been a

journalist and worked in communications

for more 30 years in Aotearoa NZ.

He left Fiji in 1987 after the first

coup, he has a MBA from Massey

University and Postgraduate Diploma

in Communications from Auckland

University of Technology.

By Jennifer Khan Janif

Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud

Draped its white protective cloak to shield me

From the bitter cold winter in July as the Air Pacific airline

touched the tarmac of Auckland International Airport

flying in from Fiji

Three arduous months spent at sea by my ancestors sailing

from India to Fiji in 1879 was no comparison to

my comfortable three-hour flight

from Fiji to Aotearoa

Indenture/Girmit system, brainchild of the British Colonial

administrators and settlers in the colonies replacing

slavery with millions of Indians snatched

from the bosom of Mother India

Without passport or visa cast into the far flung continent

of Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific

Whose warmth dried the teardrops of grief

and sorrow to face the unknown.

In 1879, I arrived in Fiji as an Indian

In 1989, I left Fiji for Aotearoa as a KaiIndia

meaning from India in Fijian language

In Aotearoa I struggle to fit in a box titled “Asian”

for census data collection

My leanness enabled me to fit

the “South Asian” box for health officials

My “Indianess” was not an entry criteria

to the “Mainland India Club” as I spoke funny Hindi

and didn’t know my caste or class

In the eyes of Mainland Indians

the generations of hard work and prosperity in Fiji

by my ancestors could never free me from the shackles of

being from a lower class with origins in Bihar and

Uttar Pradesh in India

I could only be a descendant of the slaves

not fit to be associated with

During an afternoon nap in Puketapapa

I dreamt that draped in my six-metre colourful sari with a hibiscus

flower stuck behind my ears carrying a bowl of spices

infused with the sweet fragrances of frangipanis, hibiscus and coconut

Singing melodious tune of “Isa Lei” I rode the big waves

of Oceania on a coconut frond

Following the route taken by my ancestors to cultivate green gold

in Fiji for their colonial masters

Guided by the steady hands of my ancestors

I rode the waves of Oceania navigating the space

of my identity

A proud Pacific Indian with links to India, the ancestral homeland,

Fiji, the beloved country of my birth, resting place of my ancestors

Living in Aotearoa the land of the long white cloud

my adopted new homeland where the “kiwi” birds live

and pohutukawa trees blossom in summer

YEARS

YEARS

1970-2020

1970-2020

24 FIJI

OCTOBER 2020

FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 25





Always a

longing for home

Juliana Satchell Deo is the Associate Curator Pacific at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Her story is multi-layered,

having been born in Port Moresby, raised on Daru Island then moved to Suva at the age of 13. After studying at

the University of the South Pacific Juliana moved to Auckland where she now lives with her family.

This is her story …

How has being born in PNG,

raised in Fiji and now working

in Auckland shaped who

you are today?

I was born in Port Moresby, Papua New

Guinea and raised on Daru Island, PNG,

by my Abere and Nogere until I was ready

to go to Primary School in Port Moresby.

I moved to Queensland, Australia,

to start high school then shortly after I

moved to Suva, Fiji, when I was 13 years

old to live with my stepfather, mother and

siblings. I lived in Fiji until I was 24 years

old and then I moved to Auckland, New

Zealand.

I am of Torres Strait Islands, Australia;

Daru Island, PNG and Malaita, Solomon

Islands descent.

I come from different Pacific Island nations

like many of my family, friends and

peers and collectively we are all passionate

about our identity as Pacific Islanders but

individually we all have our own innate

worldviews that are shaped by the places

we grew up in and the families we were

raised by.

Most of my vuvale live in PNG and

Fiji and so I regard these places as home

– especially Fiji! My beloved stepfather

is buried at the Lami Cemetery and my

mother, two younger sisters, younger

brother and nephew live in Fiji – along

with all my beautiful vuvale. My father and

stepmother live in Rabaul, PNG.

We're interested in your perspectives as

a spatial designer, museum curator and

artist with several layers to your identity.

My life now in Auckland is built around

Juliana Satchell Deo

the people I have met and become friends

with – my Auckland vuvale. When you build

a connection to a place, you grow with that

place, and the inherent qualities of such places

get woven into your identity. For me and my

family, Auckland has added another layer to

our worldviews and our cultural identity.

Growing up in PNG and Fiji has significantly

influenced my professional practice but

most importantly this cultural background

has shaped who I am as a mother, friend,

colleague, student and individual.

I am deeply interested in the domestic and

familial customary rituals of my culture and

the spatial relationships that are made and

nurtured within these spaces. In my practice

as a museum professional - I am always

intrigued by the spatial transactions the

taonga (object) offers and my intentions are

to explore and reveal these hidden meanings

and stories.

The taonga was once activated through use

– either through adornment, tools or other

performative aspects and so like most of my

colleagues - that’s where we come in and try

to bring the voices back to the objects and to

the source communities.

In my interactions with taonga, I imagine

sounds of singing and instruments, dancing

bodies, crafting hands and working legs

along with hopeful eyes, overflowing laughter

and rich talanoa.

Knowing the value of storytelling through

taonga, dance, song and talanoa helps in my

role and I attribute this knowledge to my

PNG and Fiji background.

How have your personal experiences and

life experiences affected your world view?

Like so many Pacific Island people who

must live away from their homeland or

family – there is always a longing for home

and that need for connection and a sense of

belonging.

It brings me so much joy to go back home

to Fiji - I am always so happy when I sit

and chew betel-nut with my mother at the

Suva Market and talanoa with my mother’s

friends. I think of Fiji every day and I miss

everything about Fiji – even the potholes on

the road! I wish the beautiful Fiji Islands and

every Fijian a very Happy 50th Independence

Anniversary.

Ni sa Bula Vinaka . Noa’ia ‘e Mauri . Namaste

Greetings from the Auckland Vatukoula Group, and

the golden people from Fiji’s Gold Mine Town.

A celebration

of togetherness

$1000

Cash Prize draw

4 chances to win

Enter now at

fijidynamics.com

Namaskaram and Greetings

T.I.S.I. (NZ) Sangam celebrates

Fiji’s 50 years of independence

with all Fijians and fellow

Sangam members throughout Fiji and the

world.

Sangam is a representative cultural body

for people of South Indian heritage, and

has been active in New Zealand for over

three decades, with first group formed in

Auckland in 1988.

Members are mainly from the Fijian diaspora,

and take part in religious, social and

sporting events throughout the year.

In Fiji, the T.I.S.I Sangam is the largest

non-public provider of education with 26

schools, a nursing academy and numerous

pre-schools. And there are dozens of

branches and temples around Fiji.

The word Sangam signifies a number of

things including togetherness and a movement

of people – which is very much what

Fiji and the Fijian diaspora is.

Fiji people now live in all corners of the

world, but always come together “under

noble banner blue”.

And so it is very fitting to have a magazine

that celebrates this and Fiji’s 50 years

of being a nation.

M K Pillay

Chair

Then India Sanmarga Ikya (NZ) Sangam

Charitable Trust

be in to win

1st Prize NZ$500

2nd Prize NZ$250

3rd Prize NZ$150

4th Prize NZ$100

YEARS

YEARS

1970-2020

1970-2020

26 FIJI

OCTOBER 2020

FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 27





Through a glass brightly

by Ajay Vasisht

A

RRIVING in a pre-Covid-Fiji, late last

year was everything I had imagined.

And more.

On an island that prides itself for having

the most tourism friendly environment - the people

at the check-in, on the flight, and the people at

the arrival hall, including the Fijian band playing

in the Customs and arrivals was very much like

something from a picture postcard.

It was a great welcome, though I wish more

people acknowledged them, while they beamed

their 100 Watt smiles and belted out island

melodies.

But Fiji is more than a tourist destination. It is

also the land of many islands and cultures that has

its own mythology, history and diversity, whether

indigenous or otherwise.

A remote part of the Pacific which seems to be

almost lost in the vast expanse of the ocean. That

isolation has kept Fiji working almost in a time

warp from its century old colonial past where the

British came and settled and set up indentured

labour in the cane fields to its current more modernised

city dwelling and rural, almost utopian

existence.

Europeans visited Fiji from the 17th century,

and, after a brief period as an independent kingdom,

the British established the Colony of Fiji in

1874. Fiji was a Crown colony until 1970, when it

gained independence as the Dominion of Fiji. A

republic was declared in 1987, following a series of

coups d'état.

Ask anyone travelling to a foreign land and I

think the answer in terms of what makes a place

interesting, beautiful and compelling you to return

to them again and again - it has to be its people.

There is a warm, welcoming and inclusive as

well as inquisitive nature that the Fijians carry

with themselves almost as a second nature. I might

change that to first nature. They are indeed a

happy, outgoing, fun and relaxed “kind of chilled

out to the max” island folk.

I have been traveling to Fiji off and on since the

80s and have had the pleasure of going there to

explore so many facets. In the 80s it was tourism,

sugar and garment factories that did so well in the

quota regimes of the WTO. In the late 80s and 90s

they were exporting golf shirts, board shorts and

surf apparel to the Americas and to Europe. Remnants

of that industry still thrive in pockets.

I got to hang out on the cane farms, chase after

chickens and goats, pull out the dalo plants for an

Locals enjoy a dip at Suva Point along Queen

Elizabeth Drive.

evening meal, and drink fresh coconut water.

And you haven’t really had the quintessential

Fijian or island experience unless you attempt to

climb a coconut tree.

I say attempt because it was not easy. Yet, my

local mates Jo (Jone) and Mo (Mohammed) could

scurry up the side of the tree almost without effort.

They made it look easy.

I also got to explore Fiji as a beautiful and

rugged film location, whether it be on land or

on sea where you could shoot a blockbuster like

Anaconda or the Tom Hanks film Castaway, to

being able to explore and work with people in the

media sector.

In fact, probably one of the most memorable

outings has to be have been the yellow bucket kava

on Friday night drinks at one of the radio stations.

A challenge that I faced and conquered, along with

the perhaps 18 others who lasted through several

yellow buckets through a night full of stories,

recollections, camaraderie, friendship and the

general sense of ease only the “island time” vibe of

Fiji can provide.

In my several trips to Fiji since the 1980s there

were also times where I have come rather close

to the tumult that has occurred with its various

coups. In fact in 2000, a day before the George

Bula! Congratulations

Fiji on 50 years of independence.

Speight coup I happened to be in downtown Suva

where there was some ruckus on the street, and

a little bit of unease about something that just

seemed like a small protest, but turned out to be an

element of the coup, later on. There are forgotten

or buried stories of the chaos and mayhem that

followed, and it impacted so many people. It was

a country still working on defining and finding

itself.

Yes, there is indeed the challenge of building the

island up to a booming economy a la Tahiti or Hawaii.

Yes, wages could be higher, and land reform

is needed so vast swathes of once fertile lands with

bumper crops can be productive once again.

We won’t even talk of the potholes that underline

these challenges as a daily reminder on urban

roads. Yes there is the spectre of geo-political jockeying

for resources and wealth. Yes, there is a lack

of opportunity and growth, but on the whole that

is trumped by the indomitable spirit of its people.

What stood out for me, about the Fijian people

has to have been their spirit and a sense of contentment.

A happy-go-lucky attitude that they bring to

facing almost every problem, issue or challenge. A

sense of community that emanates from its rural

roots.

One striking thing for me has to have been the

permeating atmosphere of faith, and the prayers

and singing, whether in churches or temples. Or

the calm and peacefulness in the mosques. When

the Fijians attend church it is a sight to behold and

one that appeals and touches all the senses and the

renditions of their hymns and songs in full flight

are so high energy, it gives you goosebumps.

Another fascinating aspect of the islands is the

almost effortless mingling of cultures, cuisine and

languages, while still maintaining individuality

and identity.

The two largest groups, the indigenous Fijians,

and the Fijian Indians switch between languages

with envious ease. Perhaps not everyone, but so

many do it so effortlessly.

Fiji Hindi, also known as Fijian baat or Fijian

Hindustani, is the language spoken by most Fijian

citizens of Indian descent. It is derived mainly

from the Awadhi and Bhojpuri varieties of Hindi.

It has also borrowed a large number of words

from Fijian and English. The relation between Fiji

Hindi and standard Hindi is similar to the relation

between say Afrikaans and Dutch.

Indian indentured labourers were initially

brought to Fiji mainly from districts of eastern

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, North-West Frontier and

Ajay Vasisht with a Grand Pacific Hotel staff member

in Suva.

South India such as from Andhra and Tamil Nadu.

They spoke numerous, mainly Hindi, dialects and

languages depending on their district of origin.

And as someone from India, it was fascinating

to see how the local hindi had evolved over the

last century or more. The indentured “girmitiya”

labour were brought from different regions and

ports from all over in India.

Fijian Hindi or Fijian Hindustani was borne

out a need for people with several different mother

tongues to communicate with each other – Hindi,

Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Urdu and smattering of

many more regional languages from India went

into the mix.

The development of Fiji Hindi was accelerated

by the need for labourers speaking different

dialects and sub-dialects of Hindi to work together

and the practice of young children being left

during working hours in early versions of day care

centres.

A language soon developed in Fiji that

combined the common elements of the Hindi

dialects spoken in these areas with Fijian, Urdu,

and English words; this has diverged significantly

from the varieties of Hindi spoken on the Indian

sub-continent.

Later, another lot of Indian indentured labourers,

who were mainly speakers of Dravidian

languages (Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam), were

brought from South India. By this time Fiji Hindi

A fine day in central Suva.

The two largest

groups, the indigenous

Fijians, and the

Fijian Indians switch

between languages

with envious ease.

Perhaps not everyone,

but so many do it so

effortlessly.

was well established as the lingua franca of Fiji

Indians and the South Indian labourers had to

adapt and learn it to communicate with the more

numerous North Indians and European overseers.

Inward migration of free Gujarati and Punjabi

settlers further contributed to Fiji Hindi.

And now I find it one of the most enjoyable experiences

to converse in, and learn more and more

of Fiji Hindi. The raised tone and inflections of Fiji

Hindi, the baritones in the Fijian kaiviti language

and the expressions coming from both make it a

very interesting place to connect and figure out the

land and people that make up Fiji.

I miss greeting everyone with a Bula, Ram Ram,

or the occasional Annyeonghaseyo; thanking

them with a Bula Vinaka, and agreeing to things

with a simple “set”.

And I will definitely not be asking for a Doda

Dola when asking for a Coke! A mistake I made

in the early days when I first visited Fiji, faced a

rather confused shop owner, and then my Fijian

friends had to laugh out loud and rescue me,

saying they had just educated me on how Cakobau

Road was actually pronounced as “Thakombau

road”. The C in the local language, having a “tha”

or “Da” sound.

The enjoyable journey of growing my understanding

of Fiji, and of absolutely loving Fiji and its

peoples, continues. How I wish we were back there

now, to celebrate the upcoming 50th Anniversary

of Fiji finding and asserting itself!

One day soon Covid bhai, we will defeat you

and get back to our previous normal. We will once

again be back in the land that is absolutely “julum”,

and we will all be thoroughly “set”.

- Ajay Vasisht (aka Pardesi) is a movie buff, actor,

writer and presenter with an overlay of marketing

and business experience. He has run a magazine,

produced short films, and interviewed celebs and

politicians on TV and radio and currently streams

on a local channel. His credits include the shows on

NDTV, India, and New Zealand feature films Apron

Strings and Vindaloo Empire, Miramax's Heaven,

the major Indian television series Karishma, the epic

fantasy series Xena: Warrior Princess, a recurring

role in New Zealand's long-running soap Shortland

Street

We remember with gratitude,

the sacrifices of those who made it possible.

Remain blessed Fiji.

Nazir & Hazra Khan & Family- Auckland

Fiji Islands Islads

Congratulations on your

50th Anniversary of Independence

YEARS

YEARS

1970-2020

1970-2020

28 FIJI

OCTOBER 2020

FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 29





New Zealand Fiji Football Inc

Aisha powers Radio Bula Masti

BULA to all the readers of Fiji

Dynamics.

I, on behalf of New Zealand Fiji

Football Inc, am privileged to be

given an opportunity to send our heartfelt

blessings and good wishes to the people of the

beautiful Fiji Islands during this milestone and

memorable event.

Today, as we all proudly celebrate 50 years

of Independence of Fiji, I am sure we all

thank the Almighty for blessing us Fiji as our

homeland.

Fiji is known to the world as the Island

Paradise and this is only been possible through

the sheer dedication and commitment of all

citizens of Fiji Islands.

Today, as we live in different parts of the

world and proudly publicise Fiji to be our

homeland, we all should take a moment

to thank our ancestors for their foresight

and vision that not only gave us Fiji as our

country of birth, but also allowed the world

to recognise Fiji as a beauty unmatched by

anything.

The love, affection and cultural values that

has been educated to us by our own pioneers is

what we all are renowned for all over.

The brotherhood, uncompromised

bonding towards one another always stands

tall wherever we live and we as individuals are

very proud to meet another Fijian and share

memories of our homeland as if we have not

only just met, but have known each other

for generations. This is what unifies us all as

Fijians.

Sports plays a vital role in bring

communities together and at this point in

time I would like to proudly mention the 2016

Rio Olympics where Fiji Sevens team placed

all Fijians around the world as supreme. The

humbleness and respect shown by our heroes

Communities unite

through sports

Sachin Dutt

on that day while receiving the first ever Gold

Medal for Fiji at Olympics stood tall in the

eyes of the entire world.

Today, as we celebrate the 50th

Anniversary of Fiji’s Independence, we all

look back at what Fiji our homeland has

given us all, which we will all cherish for our

entire life. Thank you to Fiji Dynamics that

we all can join in and thank all our forefathers

for their sacrifices towards the future of Fiji

overall.

NZFFI, also takes pride in promoting

Fijian community in New Zealand, and as an

organisation, we provide a platform for our

members who are of all age groups to engage

in the Fijian flavour through football.

As we all celebrate the 50th Anniversary

of Fiji, NZFFI also celebrates its 15th

Anniversary this year. NZFFI, with the help

of its affiliates and its members, provides

opportunities to the community to showcase

their football skills and our tournaments

always bring out the Fijian football

atmosphere.

NZFFI over the years has successfully

hosted several Fiji FA national and district

teams while they have toured New Zealand

and also provides an opportunity to the

players of Fiji FA to come to New Zealand

and participate in our tournaments.

The Pacific Cup tournament, which is

in its 8th year of existence, has gained such

momentum and following that we are having

teams from North America participate in this

event on a yearly basis.

Finally, as the president of NZFFI, I with

all my members and their families wish one

and all a Happy 50th Independence.

- Sachin Dutt is President of the

New Zealand Fiji Football Inc.

by Rohini Murti

RADIO Bula Masti turns three this month.

Nothing extraordinary about that – all

radio stations grow older each year.

What’s amazing is the petite woman behind

this.

An immigrant to Canada from Tavua, Fiji Islands in

1993, Aisha Bali overcame her fear of public speaking

and launched what is now Radio Bula Masti, an online

radio that can be heard through its own app with a

listenership in 20 countries.

“My weakness was public speaking,” she told me

recently at the studios in Delta, Canada.

"So I challenged myself to take Toastmasters and

communication courses. From there, I went on to host

small functions as an MC.

I have listened to Bali on air and I found it hard to

believe that this confident woman’s weakness at one

time was speaking in public. So how on earth did she

end up in radio?

“My love story with radio began when I was

approached to volunteer at a newl- launched Punjabi

online radio. I had no experience in the radio industry.

“I took some online broadcasting courses and

watched lots of Ted Talks segments, along with some

coaching. With honest, and sometimes brutally so,

feedback from family and friends, I progressed," Bali

says.

"I realised how many lives I was touching through

radio and the feedback from my listeners gave me more

motivation.

"My vision was to touch people's soul and help all the

communities and I found this was coming true through

my radio programmes.”

Bali acknowledges the tremendous support from her

family and friends, but most importantly she credits her

Mum who, she says, kept praying for her and told her

not to stop but do things with respect and great ethics.

“I feel blessed to have such amazing friends around

me who helped with the start-up, and lucky to be able

to find great hosts who complete this company. The

hosts have become a part of my family and my life. I

also kept challenging myself and I believe that anything

is possible.

So how does she feel three years later? Is she on her

way to achieving what she had hoped?

“I didn't think the radio listenership would grow

this quickly and especially all over the world. This is all

because of the hard work and dedication of the Radio

Bula Masti hosts and the love and support we receive

from the community.

"Obviously, I want to keep growing and con-

In the Radio Bula Masti studios - Rohini Murti, left and Aisha Bali

Aisha Bali, left, with presenters Rohini Murti, middle, and Pravin

Prasad

tinue helping our communities through the radio

programmes both here in Canada and abroad and

since we’re an internet radio, I see a lot of potential and

possibilities with helping everyone.

"I really would like to see Radio Bula Masti become

the voice of our society.”

Did she consider herself successful?

“Success is measured through the growth of the

number of listeners and the demand from the community

to do more and more – and we certainly have

grown. I am truly amazed at our listenership which is

made up of diverse communities and ethnic groups.

This is amazing given that this is after all, an internet

radio with roots that are Fijian at heart.”

I asked her the million-dollar question: How on

earth did she cope with launching and running a radio

station on top of everything else?

“Actually, it is not easy. Having a part-time job,

managing the smooth running of the radio full time, as

well as hosting AND being a mother, wife and recently

a grand mother.

"Most days I feel as though I’ve gotten off a rollercoaster

ride with my head spinning, but I know it’s all worth it. We

are here in this world for a short time, not a long time. Do

all you can, and I wish I could do more.

"The challenges are never ending. Luckily my kids are

old enough and quite independent, but they still need their

Mom, so I give them attention when they need it.

"As for being a wife, yes - there was a lot of compromise

and adjustments to be made. Happy to say I

have been given a lot of respect and love as a woman

from different communities especially from our Fijian

community.

"But honestly, the biggest difficulty were the naysayers;

that it wouldn’t work," Bali recalls.

"People had doubts about my ability and were quite

in the beginning. The best way to deal with this is to

be surrounded by positive people, keep your head up,

focused and keep going towards your goal.

"I am pleased to say I am now in a position to help

those very people.”

Radio Bula Masti provides service to community

with free death, birthday and wedding anniversary

announcements and has been involved in food drives

for various communities.

What advice would Bali give to young girls?

“Just because you are a woman or a girl doesn't mean

you can't do what your heart desires. Be independent,

challenge your weaknesses. Don’t be afraid and don't

allow anyone to tell you that you can't achieve your

dreams.”

When Bali isn’t doing all of the above, she loves singing,

dancing, fishing and most importantly, laughing.

The Punjabi Multimedia Trust

Wishes to congratulate Fiji and all Fijians on their

50 year Independence celebrations

And acknowledging the Fiji Sikh families for their tremendous

contributions to Fiji and NZ

www.gbsnz.com

Congratulations to Fiji on her 50 years of

Independence

Business Specialists . Accounting & Taxation .

Corporate Governance Business Management .

IT Management & Digital Reputation Company/

Business – Structure and Restructure

YEARS

YEARS

1970-2020

1970-2020

30 FIJI

OCTOBER 2020

FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 31





Meet Anil Rai Mani - Fiji's trailblazer into Bollywood

Mani's movies; "Nirankush", "Jodi" and "Hamare

Sapne

The Power, starring Anil Rai Mani.

Newspaper clippings of Anil Rai Mani in Mumbai

by Special Correspondent

IT'S no secret Fijians love Bollywood - the

stars, the movies, the glamour, fashion and

not to mention the gossip and intrigue that

goes with it all.

Be it Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, Shah Rukh

Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Tabu, Taapsee

Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar or Madhuri Dixit - we

Fijians lap it up all with much fervour.

To date, quite a few movies have been made in

Fiji as well, where the passion is there for acting

and producing, but there is an evident lack of

direction.

But there have been some memorable ones as

well, made as best to the capability of the local

makers.

Anil Rai Mani, the Fijian who is making a name for himself in Bollywood.

But not too many Fijians - in Fiji and abroad

- know that Fiji has had a star in Bollywood for

almost a decade.

Yes, Fiji-born Anil Rai Mani has even won a

few awards along the way in his almost 10 years in

Mumbai, the hub of the Indian film industry.

Our very own Anil Rai Mani has been, and still

is, very much a part of Bollywood - having done

a few movies and has a few more to complete

when the Covid-19 restrictions ease.

Born in the gold mining town of Vatukoula,

Mani's journey to Mumbai began when he was

knee-high to a grasshopper - when things Bollywood

registered in his young mind.

"When I was small and we used to watch lots

of Bollywood movies, and I always thought that

I wanted to be in a movie as well," Mani recently

told Fiji Dynamics.

"I wanted to go to India and be on the big

screen, and now I have ended up there.

"It has been quite a journey so far," says Mani,

who is currently in Fiji, staying at his Vatukoula

farmhouse while waiting for the borders to open

up.

Growing up in Fiji, the passion for Bollywood

continued to grow inside young Mani, resulting

in him first making a music video of Bollywood

in 2009, starring himself and friends, all the

while lip-syncing to the numbers.

According to Mani, that musical video became

hugely popular locally in Fiji and also overseas.

The success of the video then inspired him to

go a step further towards his dream - he wrote,

produced, directed and acted in his first full

feature film made in Fiji - Jodi. He even wrote the

songs for Jodi as well.

"Jodi got a lot of attention and success," says

Mani. "It was even honoured by the Fiji Times as

the best Fiji-made movie."

The success of Jodi then pushed Mani even

closer to his Bollywood dream - the film's show

reels got noticed by Bollywood directors and it

wasn't too long after that he packed his bags for

Mumbai.

Then came his first Bollywood movie -

Nirankush - where he plays a lead role parallel to

the hero's. The movie is a psychological thriller

also starring Pankaj Badra, Khushi Sharma and

Sashi Ranjan.

Then came The Power in 2016 in which he

plays the lead role of an ayurvedic scientist.

His latest movie in Bollywood was The Indian

Tiger in 2019 - a short film.

Mani has twice collected awards for his

performances in Bollywood, and honoured by

the Mumbai Global Achievers, and presented by

popular actor Raj Pal Yadav, who has also visited

Fiji.

Because Mani was out of the country at that

time, the award was collected on his behalf by radio

presenter Sherine Prasad, who was studying

in India at the time.

For now, Mani is content with Bollywood

where he has three more movies to complete

as soon as lockdown restrictions end and he

is again able to travel. He has a flat in Mumbai

which he uses when he is shooting there, but

otherwise spends his time in Sydney where his

family lives.

But Mani does have his sights on the bigger

picture - Hollywood.

"Yes, I do plan to go to Hollywood, there is a

director who has been impressed with my show

reels, so fingers crossed," Mani says.

"I know I will one day, I have the capabilities

and the courage. If you have courage, you can do

anything you want.

"One must have faith in everything you do,

and I am also straight forward and honest in

everything I do."

His advice to anyone from Fiji looking

towards Bollywood: "You have to be passionate

about it, just as I have been."

Bula!

Happy 50th independence Day to all the

people of Fiji

www.wyseauger.co.nz

Even though we moved on from Fiji our hearts are still in

that group of islands that is well known as the paradise of

the South Pacific.

A country that no doubt punches way above its limits due to

the people who live and work in it and no matter where in

the world you are now, a Fijian at heart you will always be

We are proud to be associated with FIJI. GOD BLESS FIJI

Sheikhil Khan – Advisor / Franchise Owner

mikepero.co.nz/Sheikhil-khan

YEARS

YEARS

1970-2020

1970-2020

32 FIJI

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FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 33





‘I try my best to make my country proud’

One of the finest footballers to come out of Fiji, Roy Krishna shares his views on what

makes him tick, the game he loves, and the impact of Covid-19

What has been the standout out

of all the games and countries

you've played for and why?

The most important outing

of my career would be playing for Fiji at the

Olympic games in Brazil in 2016. Scoring Fiji’s

first goal at the Olympics and that to against a

strong team like Mexico at the Olympic games

would be the highlight of my career. Footballers

from this part of the region often only

dream of sharing the field with the world’s

greatest players from big named clubs. Playing

against Mexico, Germany and South Korea

at the Olympics was very special for me. The

exposure, experience and knowledge I gained

from the tournament was a boost I needed in

my career.

How different is the game in India compared

with Fiji and New Zealand?

The Indian Super League (ISL) is a relatively

new league. Fiji and the Australian League

(A League), where I played for over six years

would perceive it as very different to what we

are familiar with considering the style of football

they play and the length of their seasons.

Due to the fact that ISL is new and a growing

league, it sure looks like it will have a lot more

to offer with a growing fan base that is much

bigger than the A League. In the past, ISL was

not well known considering it’s only had six

season but it is now definitely on everyone’s

radar now.

You had several options to choose from after

New Zealand, some might ask why India?

I have spent the bulk of my football-playing

career in the Pacific and I was looking for a

bigger challenge. I had a few offers from around

the world, but my decision came down to the

club that valued me the most. I looked at every

potential employer as a long-term employer

and family, so I made my decision based on

who valued me more. India was the most

attractive because they also took into consideration

my family and accommodated their needs

especially since it’s so far away from Fiji.

Were you able to retrace some of your ancestry

in India ... possibly meet some of them?

I would love to trace my ancestors but it’s

very difficult with the limited information I

have at hand as my grandparents are no longer

Roy Krishna with wife Naziah Ali.

around. I would definitely explore this more

this year when I go back to India.

Who do you play for?

ATK Mohun Bagan Football Club.

How proud were you to be the flag bearer at

the last Pacific games?

It is every athlete's dream to lead their country

at an important sporting tournament like

the Pacific Game and I am honoured to have

had that opportunity.

As a vasu, it was a very proud moment for my

family. My paternal grandmother is from village

of Bulileka, in Vanua Levu, from the mataqali

cawaicolo, so wearing the masi and carrying the

flag made everyone in my village proud.

Could you tell us a little about your love

for soccer started, where and who was your

biggest influence?

I fell in love with football at a very young

age. I have been playing for as long as I can

remember. I started from kicking around in my

backyard to playing in our local community

tournaments. The key people that influenced by

life as a footballer would be my teachers in high

school. My teachers from All Saints Secondary

School Rajeshwar Chand, Ronald Ray and late

Vinay Singh saw potential in me and pushed

me to work harder. The two men that actually

changed the course of my life would be former

coach Carlos Buzzetti who selected me for the

Roy Krishna will stay on with ATK for another

season.

Fiji Team and my mentor Rex Dawkins who

brought me to New Zealand to play for Waitakere

United. Once I joined the Fiji team, I had a

burning desire to do my best to go overseas and

play for international clubs.

Do you consider yourself a Fijian?

Absolutely.

What did it mean to captain Fiji?

I’ve been the captain for the Fiji team for a

few years now and every time I don the national

colours, I am filled with pride. It’s a privilege

to be the captain but it also comes with a lot

of responsibility. I try my best to make my

country proud and respect the flag because it

represents my people who look up to me.

How has Covid-19 impacted on you?

Covid-19 has adversely affected me like

everyone else in the world. For a long time I felt

that my future was on hold and I was missing

out on being active on the field. When the

pandemic came into full gear I was travelling

back to Fiji to join the national camp, but it

was cancelled on arrival. Now, after six months,

I’m heading back to India for another season

that will look totally different to the last. We

are expected to wear protective masks and

keep social distancing. All our matches for the

season would be behind closed doors. That’s

the new normal that we have to get used to. At

In action for ATK in the Indian league.

With Yogesh Punja, Fiji's High Commissioner to India.

the moment I'm on quarantine in Auckland for

two weeks as I didn’t have a connecting flight to

India due to reduced flights. I am also unable to

use the gym or work out outside until after my

quarantine is over. As a footballer, this has a big

impact on my fitness. My wife couldn't join me

because she doesn't have a New Zealand citizenship

or PR to be able to transit through New

Zealand like me. We both don't know when she

would be able to join me. I am using this time

to do some reading online and I do yoga and

meditation for my physical and mental health.

Your favourite city, best meal and what do

you miss the most about Fiji?

My favourite city would have to be New York

City. My favourite dish is chicken pasta. The

most thing I miss about Fiji is the food and my

family.

Congratulations Fiji-on your 50th anniversary of Independence

www.akalfoundation.org.nz

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50 years of independence, Congratulations to our Fiji

www.kavacalm.online

YEARS

YEARS

1970-2020

1970-2020

34 FIJI

OCTOBER 2020

FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 35





The legend that is Serevi Best wishes to all Fijians

by Satend Kumar

their name back home in Fiji.

When Fiji wins the Hong Kong

AS a young boy in Fiji,

Sevens it's a good 12 months for

rugby star Waisale Serevi

CONGRATULATIONS Fiji United Kingdom, Australia and New

all in Fiji until the next Hong

strained to hear tales of

Kong Seven but when they lose the

on your 50th Anniversary of Zealand.

his heroes through the

Hong Kong Sevens, it's the worst

Independence.

Sikhs in Fiji are generally referred to

crackle of an old transistor radio.

12 months for both the players and

Unlike the majority of as Punjabis. Currently 5000 Sikhs are

Difficult to follow at times. There

the Fijian fans as all have to wait for

Fiji's Indian population who are living in Fiji Islands.

was no television in those days, only

another year.

descendants of Indian indentured New Zealand Punjabi Multimedia

the scrappy reception of the wireless,

Luckily for Serevi, he enjoyed a

those listening had to visualise the

labourers brought to Fiji between 1879 Trust (NZPMT) is a charitable trust

plethora of successes during his 17-

heroics of the rugby stars through

year career, including seven in Hong

and 1916, most of the Sikhs came to that encourages, promotes and recognises

the achievements and service of

the commentary.

Kong. In two of those glorious years,

Fiji as free immigrants.

The voice of rugby on the airwaves

in Fiji at the time was Graham

bled up as the World Cup Sevens.

as farmers. Sikhs also came to Fiji as art, culture, sports, and community

1997 and 2005, the tournament dou-

Most Sikhs established themselves the Punjabi diaspora in the areas of

Eden, who kept us all close to the

When Fiji won the World Cup

policemen, teachers and preachers. work.

action at the Hong Kong Sevens.

Sevens for the first time in 1997, all

The country fell silent that Sunday

In recent years, large numbers of

the people of Fiji, in Fiji and all over

in 1977 when Fiji made it to the

Parminder Singh, right, and Navtej Randhawa of the NZ

the world were over excited for the

Sikhs have emigrated from Fiji, especially

to the United States, Canada, the jabi Multimedia Trust

- best compliments from the NZ Pun-

semi-finals and silence erupted into

Punjabi Multimedia Trust.

Waisale Serevi in one of his many appearances for Fiji in Hong Kong.

achievement.

elation when they made it to the

When Fiji won the World Cup

final.

ance and outrageous natural talent, Vesito Rauluni. Nabua team were Sevens in 2005 29-19 against New

Proud of Achievements

It was an evening of anticipation that on many an occasion stunned highly successful in Fiji's sevens Zealand, they had to close the

when the final came on.

audiences in what can be described tournaments.

airport in Nadi because of the overwhelming

number of people who

Before 10pm the grog was ready, as a David and Goliath battle.

Serevi's inspiration to play rugby

the radio positioned best where Waisale Tikoisolomoni Serevi, stemmed from his childhood when turned up to welcome there heroes

everyone who had gathered could born May 20, 1968, is a member Fiji defeated the British lions in 1977. back home.

hear it.

of the World Rugby Hall of Fame, He missed watching the match, but At his final Hong Kong Sevens

Five minutes before kick-off, renowned for his achievements in decided to take up rugby after seeing as a player, Serevi showed why he is

the voice from the small transistor rugby sevens, while also enjoying how happy the victory made the revered.

radio echoed through the village a long career in 15-a-side rugby at people of Fiji.

In the semifinal match against

compounds in the country. The frog both club and national team levels. Fiji's famous win over the Lions New Zealand in 2007, he received

dare not croak. Graham Eden's His family moved twice when he came in the 15-a-side version of the the ball inside Fiji's 22-yard line,

voice would fill the silence with his was a child, the second time settling sport but, while Serevi went on to proceeding to effortlessly slalom his

empowering Kiwi accent coming in Suva where Serevi started secondary

school. There, he attended Lelean tional Rugby Board (IRB) Hall of before off-loading the ball to his

become a member of the Interna-

way through three attempted tackles

more from his nostril than his throat

In Nasole, a young Serevi was Memorial School. His schooling was Fame and played at three Rugby teammate on the halfway line.

listening, enthralled and inspired unsuccessful, however, and he failed World Cups, it was in the seven-aside

game that he excelled.

one last-gasp burst, receiving a final

Serevi summoned the energy for

to be among the action on the field his Fiji Junior Certificate Examination

in 1984. Serevi blamed his Sevens is a scaled-down, fast-

pass from Volavola before striding to

rather than listen to it.

Fiji's obsession with the oval ball love for rugby, saying he "played too paced version of the code requiring the try-line with the ball raised above

has seen it stand shoulder-to-shoulder

with more resourced interna-

studying".

bucket-loads of stamina.

He ran nearly 100 metres when

much and didn't spend enough time nimbleness of mind and body and his head in jubilation.

tional teams despite being a small Serevi quit school and continued At his peak, Serevi possessed all he scored the try. Not bad for than

island nation of 800,000 people. to play for his local club, Rewa. three in spades, so much so that he 38-year-old.

But kids in villages, more often Although he trained with the team, was dubbed the "King of Sevens". With his boots now firmly zipped

than not, couldn’t afford a rugby ball he was omitted from playing as the If Serevi was king, his royal up in his kitbag, the 52-year-old IT has been said that life begins at 40 and that when ues, our beliefs, our faith and our multiculturalism and

and made do with a coconut which coach Jo Rauto thought he was too residence was the Hong Kong Sevens Serevi is focused on finding the next

would later be de-husked and have small and would get hurt.

- the most famous date on the HSBC

you reach the age of 50, your troubles are over. stand with our heads held high and proud to be Fijians.

generation of sevens talent.

the milk squeezed out to be used for He was eventually selected to play Sevens World Series calendar and Serevi Rugby was set up in 2010

We dare say that in the past 50 years Fiji has had God bless our beloved Fiji and long may she prosper.

the family's fish and lolo dinner. for the senior provincial side when a tournament followed religiously by the now retired star and three

to face many challenges but not to detract from the

It was from this humble background

that Serevi emerged as a was asked to join the Nabua Rugby For the players it is a big burden encourage children into the sport all

he was 17. Several months later he in Fiji.

Seattle-based partners. It aims to

solid achievement of the past 50 years it has much to be Jacinta Chow

powerhouse on the rugby sevens Club – under the guidance of coach when they come to the Hong Kong

proud of.

Chairperson

over the world, with a specific focus

scene, blessed with flare, flambuoy-

Ratu Kitione Tuibua – by his uncle Sevens, they have to win to make on growing rugby in North America.

For us Fijians living abroad, we try to impart our val-

St Joseph's Secondary School NZ Alumnae - Auckland

www.mts.kiwi.nz

Congratulations Fiji and people of

Fiji - for your 50 years of

Independence

Ni sa bula Vinaka / Mālō e lelei.

I am a proud Tongan/Fijian (Lau) Radio and TV broadcaster based in Auckland.I

would like acknowledge our Fijian leaders who helped set the foundation

for us today and for future generations. I encourage our community to

stay united and work together as we celebrate the 50th Independence Day!

‘Ofa atu and Loloma Levu. Mālō ‘aupito John Pulu.

YEARS

YEARS

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1970-2020

36 FIJI

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FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 37





On a mission to preserve culture

by Special Correspondent

October 19-24 around the country

(see programme).

Dutt, originally from Yako in Nadi, has been

passionate about the teaching of Hindi right from

his teacher days in Fiji - in total 19 years around the

country at Korovutu Primary and High Schools,

Nadi College, Dr Ram Lakhan Memorial School,

SSM Primary and as principal at Tuvu Primary in

Lautoka.

In New Zealand since 2001, Dutt has been teaching

at Southern Cross Campus, Sir Edmund Hillary

Collegiate, Fergusson Intermediate, and now fultime

at McAuley High School in Otahuhu.

Empowered by their mission statement - "Our

Language, Our Culture, Our Identity" - Dutt and

his team are determined to push on with their

objectives.

As Dutt puts it, their aim is to promote teaching of

Satya Dutt has been at the forefront of the teaching Hindi language and culture in New Zealand schools

of Hindi language in New Zealand.

in accordance with the Education Act and policies.

Cultural School, and the Wellington Hindi "New Zealand Hindi Language and Culture Trust

School - to name a few.

is non-profit organisation committed to promoting

And Dutt emphasises that the Indian High the propagation and celebration of Hindi language

Commission based in Wellington has also and culture to uphold diversity in New Zealand.

been supportive of their project.

"The trust is to foster language and cultural diversity

through Hindi language, providing the platform

Another project that has been identified by

the trust is school clusters to teach Hindi - in for spiritual and moral education and aims to develop

cultural, awareness amongst the Indian and wider

Mt Roskill, Papatoe and Flat Bush.

Hindi classes are already a part of Papatoetoe

High School where it was first introduced that is aware of its historical roots, appreciative of

population of the country, culminating into a society

by former principal Peter Gall.

the richness of cultural diversity and is proactive in

And Hindi Language Week celebrations maintaining language as the foundation of culture."

have been a regular on the calendar since For now, Dutt and his team appear to be on track

2008. This year's celebrations will be held over with their mission.

NOT too long ago, an Indian colleague

of mine said to me that out of all

Indian origin diaspora around the

world, the Fiji Indians were the "best

ambassadors".

Surprised, I questioned him further.

"It's true," he went on. "You Fiji Indians are the

best ambassadors of India."

How come?

"After more than a 100 years away from India,

the Fiji Indians have retained every aspect of

their culture and language in every way, and

perhaps even more."

His reply got me thinking, and it may actually

be true, even in New Zealand as well.

I then realised that there are Fiji Indians in

our community in New Zealand who still have

that vision to promote and cultivate culture and

language among the younger generation.

And one name that comes to mind is

Auckland school teacher Satya Dutt, who has

been leading the charge as far as teaching Hindi

language in New Zealand is concerned.

Dutt, 63, is keen to see Hindi included in the

New Zealand school curriculum, and has has

already made several submissions to the Ministry

of Education over the past few years.

"We are not entirely satisfied with the government

response," says Dutt, who heads the

non-profit New Zealand Hindi Language and

Culture Trust.

So far, Dutt and his team have made three submissions

to the government of the day - two to

National and one to the current government - for

Hindi to be included in the school curriculum.

And the government response has been that

schools can teach Hindi if they see a need for it.

But having Hindi included in the curriculum

means access to more resources from government.

"Sometimes we get disheartened, but we keep

going, keep pushing."

Dutt said Tongan and Samoan languages were

already included in the curriculum, and with

Hindi being the fourth widely spoken language

in New Zealand, and the third in Auckland, they

had a strong case.

But Dutt is not alone in his endeavours, he has

quite a few like minded individuals and organisations

who are equally enthusiastic about Hindi.

Dutt's trust works closely with the Waitakere

Hindi School, the Pooja Cultural Trust, Ram

Krishna Mandir, Shivarchan Hindi Language and

Satya Dutt at a Hindi Language Week celebration with MPs, from left: Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Ethnic

Affairs Minister Jenny Salesa, and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi.

Namaskaram . Ni sa Bula Vinaka . Namaste

Greetings from the Sangam Fiji families

Then India Sanmarga Ikya (NZ) Sangam celebrates together with

Fiji and all Fiji people their 50th Anniversary of Independence

Answers to

crossword

Puzzle on

page 40

YEARS

YEARS

1970-2020

1970-2020

38 FIJI

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FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 39





The intrepid traveller's Fiji

by Tobias Junginger

Fiji has left a lasting impression on Tobias Junginger, the other photos are just some of the scenic spots he visited.

FIJI. What does it mean to someone from

the other side of the world? Nothing at

first. Except the typical dream bubbles of

white beaches, palms and happy people

in the middle of the blue nowhere.

You usually don't even get second-hand

experience, since hardly anybody you know has

ever been to Oceania. That's how it was for me -

interested in the whole world and other cultures

and well-versed in them … just, the Pacific ...

there was such a white empty space on the map

of the world traveller.

Last autumn I came to the decision that I had

to change that. Bought books, ordered tickets,

got started. As soon as I stood at the Fiji Airways

counter, the world began to change.

The faces of the people, their calmness, their

reactions. So very different from the people of

the whole ''classic'' travel route that you have

done so far. On board the same. This makes you

forget that you have 48 hours of travel behind

at arrival.

You sat in the plane, read again about polyand

melanesian history ... still somehow this

hula stereotype in your head. But after a short

time you realise that Fiji doesn’t mean hula but

haka. It does not try to seduce. It’s itself, proud

of itself and its traditions and willing to defend

them if necessary.

It is not for nothing that Fiji's soldiers are

considered to be among the bravest and most

dedicated of the United Nations - amazing for

such a small country from a region that has no

war tradition with neighbouring countries. And

then there was the dictionary German - Fijian

...you're sitting there as a tourist in an airplane

and learning the meaning of ''bokola''...

But where does that come from? First of all,

I noticed in Fiji that people here are not as burdened

with history as in the entire old world. As

a friend explained to me: ''200 years ago we ate

each other, everyone knows and that's it". When

I look at what kinda trivial occasions have already

been constructed in Europe to prove why

one cannot exist on the same continent with

one's neighbour(s) under any circumstances.

Of course, the exposed position of the Pacific

is probably a major point. A country that is

hardly attractive from an economic point of

view, especially since it is small, and for the conqueror-addicted

Europeans it is blessed with a

climate that is harmful to their health and with

inhabitants that are quite belligerent.

The latter may have been missionaries in

the long term, but they never let themselves be

defeated. This was probably due to the fact that

they had been quite successful in their conquest

so far. Due to the wood - and not very scripture-based

culture, which was firmly rooted

even on the smallest islands far away from any

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contact, it was less easily attacked than on the

continents.

It presented the colonisers with challenges

similar to those faced by the Inuit, for example.

One of the best descriptions of this is probably

still Thor Heyerdahl's ''Fatu Hiva''.

But the missionary work was done. In

addition, the settlement of Indian contract

workers. This brought with it new challenges,

but ultimately also something rare: religious

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and cultural tolerance, lived daily.

This means a lot when you look at other

colonial areas with foreign ethnic groups settled

there, such as in Africa. It also gives Fiji an international

connection in worldwide trade that

is almost unique in Oceania.

In my country - Germany - almost everybody

knows the Maori. Many of them have even their

tattoos engraved themselves. Unfortunately,

hardly anyone knows their origin. Which would

be quite appropriate in times of ''Vikings'' -

enough parallels could be found. But the Fijians

have been spared to face a similar cultural

decline with only recently occurred slower

recollection as the Maori.

Fijians are cosmopolitan and adapt quickly,

but never lose their identity. You have good

relationships with everyone - in my experience

they are right to call themselves the friendliest

nation in the world - as long as you are accepted

on equal terms with the other side. I have never

experienced this without any animosities.

And unfortunately, you will hardly find it

outside of Oceania. It makes you concerned to

be shown what unfortunately will not prevail in

cultural imperialism.

I can only congratulate the islanders on

having managed to fully live out their martial

nature in sport. Fearless and genetically best

prepared for they are the nightmare of the rugby

world. All in all - a small nation from whom

the so-called ''great and high'' civilisations can

learn a lot.

As a young person, especially in the phase of

self-discovery, you should definitely have visited

Fiji once. There you will get to know an unbelievable

serenity that is at rest within yourself,

but never becomes phlegmatic.

People who love and preserve their environment

and home country in the truest sense of

the word - and who are usually not prepared to

sacrifice it for profit, as it’s usually the case in

Europe - interestingly enough, especially from

those who describe themselves as conservative.

Wherever you go – you'll find usual people

on the street caring for your welfare and trying

get a good connection with you – but rarely

in an indecent way. The Fijians have found a

unique way to cope with the past and use it for

the present. From bloody tribal wars prior to

colonisation to today's politics, both on a large

scale and on a personal level, this has been a

thread running through history.

Even if things go wrong - one reflects and

changes very pragmatically. One is not ashamed

of one's own history or takes oneself as a victim

or perpetrator. This preserves the peace that is

quite unique today and the feeling of being a

family from Hawaii to New Zealand... congratulations

to your 50th Independence Day! Au

domoni viti!

- Tobias Junginger is a 36-year-old bibliophile,

ethnological, historical and biological

interested traveller, by profession arborist, and

industrial climber (into edificeering)

Congratulations to all people of Fiji as we celebrate

the 50th anniversary of our Independence

We also pay our homage to those leaders whose

vision made this possible

Nitya Reddy & Family - Auckland

YEARS

YEARS

1970-2020

1970-2020

40 FIJI

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FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 41





Fiji's always close to

our hearts

A community centre

for all

Noa'ia 'e Mauri

Members of the Auckland Fiji Catholic Community, from left: Greg Traill, Hector Zinck, Davina Kado, Jason Kean, James Kado.

KIA ora, Ni Sa Bula, Cola Vina, Namaste, Noa’ia, Assalamualaikum, Namaskaram,

Ni Hao, Sat Sri Akal, Halo, Mauri, Malo e Lelei, Talofa Lava, Greetings.

Congratulation and Happy 50th

Independence Day Anniversary

to all Fijians living in Aotearoa

New Zealand, throughout the world and

especially to all our beloved Fijians living

in beautiful Fiji.

We have achieved a lot in these 50

years of independence. For some of us

we have left our beautiful Fiji for greener

pastures, but Fiji will always remain dear

to our heart because that is where we

were born and nurtured to who we are

today. God bless Fiji.

Me da rekitaka na 50 ni yabaki ni

noda tu galala, vei keda sa mai tiko qo e

Aotearo, kei ira talega era sa tu e vei yasai

vuravura kecega, vaka bibi vei era na

tiko mai Viti.

Isa Viti na noqu Viti, ko ni na sega

ni guilecavi rawa, e votu mai vei yau na

qaqa ni sere Vanua Domoni Koya. Sai

Viti lomai na noqu vanua,Meu mate,

mate ga vuwa.

Kaulogata tiko na Vanua lomai ko

Viti.

Congratulation Fiji on reaching 50th

Independence Day Anniversary from

the families, members and the executives

of the Auckland Fiji Catholic Community

here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

IT is indeed an honour and privilege to

acknowledge this great initiative by the Fiji

Dynamics Magazine Team in allowing Rotuman's

living in Aotearoa, New Zealand to be

part of this publication.

And we wish to congratulate Fiji and Rotuma

on achieving this important milestone of 50 years

of nationhood.

The goal is to support all people in coming

together in love and unity.

The Centre is also used for the gatherings of our

elderly people to enjoy themselves. They organise

their own programs and share a weekly lunch.

The New Zealand Rotuman Community

Centre is also used for the teaching of the unique

Rotuman Language Classes and the Rotuman

Culture.

Rotuman people are a separate ethnic group

with our own distinct language, culture, and

identity. They originate from the Polynesian Island

of Rotuma.

The Centre serves not only Rotumans, but

people from all communities in Aotearoa New

Zealand.

Rotuma is described as an "untouched paradise"

with some of the world's most pristine and beautiful

beaches.

The NZ Rotuman Community Centre is committed

to serving all humanity.

Alalum ma hanisiof

The NZ Rotuman Community Centre

acknowledges our Fijian and Rotuman families and

their celebration of Fiji’s 50 years of Independence

Come and share lunch with our Elders every

Wednesday. All welcome

The Seafood Kitchen NZ wishes to congratulate the people of Fiji Islands for the

50 years of Independence Celebration.

God Bless Fiji....from Salesh Mudaliar & the Team

www.elliottstables.co.nz/eat/the-seafod-kitchen

YEARS

YEARS

1970-2020

1970-2020

42 FIJI

OCTOBER 2020

FIJI

OCTOBER 2020 43





YEARS

1970-2020


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YEARS

1970-2020

44 FIJI

OCTOBER 2020



YEARS

1970-2020


FIJI DYNAMICS - October 2020

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