From Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (29 August 2025)

Inaugural Rotuma Youth Festival is just the beginning

By Sainiani Boila

While closing the four-day event Rotuma Youth Festival, Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru says it’s a starting of a new era as they bridge the gap between the various government Ministries and the youths of Rotuma.

Saukuru reminded the youths to keep track with the progress that is currently being set by the Ministry as they work towards their goals.

“This is the time to best utilize what you have learned from the two weeks training. You have a brighter future so you have to work towards it.”

he Ministry also handed over a mini sound system set worth $5K as part of the youth grants in including a screen printing and sewing machine set for the Rotuma Youth Club.

The last event of the festival was traditional games including traditional weaving and copra processing before a farewell dance or fara to farewell the visitors that were part of the four day festival.

Meanwhile the volleyball, netball competitions were dominated by Team Jirau whereas the Touch Rugby competition title was won by Faguta youths. Hapmak, Jirau and Noatau clubs were awarded a Small Engine Tool Set each whereas Noatau, Jirau, Lopta and Motusa youth were awarded Basic Solar Tool Sets.

From Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (28 August 2025)

Speak up youths says Saukuru

By Sainiani Boila

Youth in the Itumuta District on Rotuma Island were encouraged to use their voices to take advantage of new development opportunities.

During a discussion with young Rotumans, Youth Minister Jese Saukuru highlighted that government grants, cooperatives, and support from various organizations can help them create jobs and income-generating projects for their community.

Saukuru says real progress depends on the willingness of youth to openly highlight the barriers holding them back.

“You’ve seen us coming in full force. We mean business. We want to serve you better. You haven’t seen this kind of delegation from government. This big number of people to come to Rotuma. If we come in with this big number, you must realise we are here on business. We want to serve you. We want to listen to you for what you want. And we’ll try and tailor our service according to the need that is here in Rotuma.”

Former President, Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote, also reminded participants that Rotuma faces pressing challenges such as drugs, HIV and other social issues.

He says partnering with stakeholders will ensure young people remain focused and make better choices.

The Rotuma Youth Festival continues tonight in Pepjei District with another talanoa session.

A rugby competition will bring the week-long event to a close tomorrow.

From Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (27 August 2025)

Rotuma clergy lead youth intervention

By Mosese Raqio

Rotuma Divisional Superintendent of the Methodist Church in Fiji, Reverend Viliame Fatiaki, has stressed the vital role pastors, reverends, and lay preachers play in addressing the growing social issues facing communities today, particularly among young people.

Speaking on the rise of drug use, teenage pregnancies, and other challenges, Reverend Fatiaki said the gospel must be applied to every aspect of life, and the clergy’s mission extends beyond the pulpit into practical engagement with society.

Reverend Fatiaki says as far as the clergy of the Methodist Church, he believes they have a major role to play in proclaiming the gospel and implementing workshops that help address these problems.

He emphasized the need to change perspectives on young people struggling with issues such as drug abuse, reminding the church and community to approach them with compassion rather than judgment.

He says they have to see these youths as members of the congregation, people of God.

Reverend Fatiaki says we may hate the sin, but we must love the sinner.

Reverend Fatiaki further highlighted the church’s commitment to working alongside government and stakeholders in tackling these challenges, not only from a spiritual standpoint but also by providing mental, physical, and social support.

He has also called for the implementation of workshops and programs designed to empower young people, promote positive change, and provide pathways away from destructive habits.

Reverend Fatiaki says the church plays a major role in helping government and communities combat these pressing issues, and beyond spiritual guidance, we must actively support our young people through initiatives that build resilience, faith, and hope.

From Fiji Village (26 August 2025)

Saukuru inspires Rotuma youth to choose growth over addiction

By Temalesi Vono

Your future is far too valuable to be stolen by addiction.

This has been shared by the Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru during the Rotuma Youth Festival yesterday in Ahau, Rotuma, where he urged young people to stay away from drugs and protect their health, dreams and families.

Saukuru refers to the increase in the use of illicit drugs as the "devil among us" and says it is because of the deep and destructive impact it has on youths in Fiji.

He says youths in Rotuma should use the 4-day festival as an opportunity to connect with others, find inspiration, and dedicate themselves to creating positive change, not only for their own benefit, but also for their families, communities, and future generations.

The Rotuma Youth Festival 2025 marks the 7th youth festival hosted around Fiji, and programs are designed to guide youths away from harmful activities and toward growth, learning and community building.

From Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (26 August 2025)

Police reveal alarming abuse cases

By Sainiani Boila

Sexual assault, teenage pregnancies and defilement are among the most pressing social issues facing Rotuma, according to the Fiji Police Force.

Speaking during an awareness session at the Rotuma Youth Festival last night, Sexual and Child Abuse officer Inspector Unaisi Mateiwai highlighted that the island is recording concerning levels of sexual abuse cases, warning that solutions must come from within the community itself.

Inspector Mateiwai said the youngest mother on the island was a 12-year-old and this is a concern.

"Last year, we even saw teenage pregnancies recorded at the primary school level. No one will come from outside to save Rotuma. The responsibility lies with you."

Mateiwai emphasized that under the law, although a minor may offer consent, final approval cannot be given by the child.

"In some cases, parents are aware their daughters are already living with boys. If a child is underage and parents allow it, they can face between 12 to 14 years of imprisonment."

The awareness program formed part of the Rotuma Youth Festival, which is focused this year on addressing social ills and strengthening family and community values among island youth.

The festival continued today with workshops, sports activities, and further awareness sessions led by police various government Ministries and community leaders.

From Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (26 August 2025)

Rotuma hosts largest ever Mamasa ceremony

The island of Rotuma witnessed its largest traditional welcoming ceremony, known as Mamasa, with over 120 visitors receiving this special honour.

Mamasa, a customary practice, is traditionally performed for first-time visitors to Rotuma.

Mafua Lorenzo Fonmoa says it serves a dual purpose. Firstly it is to warmly welcome guests and secondly to ensure their safety during their stay on the island.

The island of Rotuma witnessed its largest traditional welcoming ceremony, known as Mamasa, with over 120 visitors receiving this special honour.

Mamasa, a customary practice, is traditionally performed for first-time visitors to Rotuma.

Mafua Lorenzo Fonmoa says it serves a dual purpose. Firstly it is to warmly welcome guests and secondly to ensure their safety during their stay on the island.

From Facebook (25 August 2025)

Life-Changing Skills For Hapmak Village

Semesi Pene, a 47-year-old farmer from Hapmak Village in Rotuma, is celebrating new skills that will transform his life and benefit his entire community.

After completing a one-week small engine repair training at Ahau Government Station, organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Pene can now repair his own farming equipment – saving up to $80 per repair.

"I am very happy as now I can manage to repair my machine for my garden. I don't need to look for a mechanic, which costs $80 for one machine. I can do it myself now," he said.

Mr. Pene expressed his gratitude to the Fiji Government for bringing such opportunities to Rotuma, saying the training is a big support not only for himself, but also for his family and community.

Looking ahead, he plans to open a small garage to train youth in his village, passing on his knowledge and creating employment opportunities for others.

"It can help me support my village, not just me," he added.

From Otago University (24 August 2025)

First PhD globally on Rotuman literature

Dr Mere Taito addresses the Pacific Graduation breakfast yesterday before crossing the stage later in the day as the Indigenous Pacific scholar to graduate with a PhD in English from Otago,

Her work is a scholarly and creative gift to her community, one she describes with pride, humility and gratitude.

"I am extremely humbled, overwhelmed, very grateful, and at the same time, mind blown. I did not set out to be the first of anything," Mere says.

"I was drawn to the work of examining early Rotuman literature because there were so much joy and rich intellectual engagement to be had here."

Mere traces her heritage to the districts of Malha'a and Noa'tau on the island of Rotuma, a political dependency of Fiji. She was born in Fiji, then moved to New Zealand in 2007, a decision encouraged by her father who will proudly watch her cross the stage on graduation day.

"I had no inkling that this move to New Zealand would open so many doors for me," she says.

"It has been 18 remarkable years of personal, creative and scholarly growth."

Mere's thesis has been recognised as an 'Exceptional Thesis' by the University. For her, the real achievement is how it has re-centred Rotuman voices.

"I am most proud that this research has sharpened and re-focused our attention on earlier writers such as Emosi Rima, who was a key contributor to the Rotuman-language newsletter Rogorogo (1913–1914), Mesulame Titifanua, author of the original Rotuman-language text of Tales of a Lonely Island (1937), and Fuata Taito, author of The Aborigines of the North (1949) and My Own Story (1949). I am also proud of how my work suggests creative ways to engage with these and other historical texts.

"To be able to offer my people a scholarly and creative gift that is of an exceptional standard makes me teary just thinking of this."

The poet in Mere shaped much of her doctoral process. She brought creativity, play and experimentation into her research, producing a collection of 54 digitally born poems alongside her academic writing.

"Play is joyous, and yet play is also vigorous," she says.

"Any substantial work like a doctoral thesis rests on vigorous revisions, re-thinking and re-editing, which is a process I quite enjoy."

As creative as Mere was, her academic journey was not without hardship.

She initially began her doctorate at another university, but a lack of support forced her and six other Indigenous PhD candidates to leave.

Throughout this time and the rest of her PhD studies, Mere was supported by Professor Alice Te Punga Somerville of the University of British Columbia.

"But I was without a second supervisor for six months. This was tough. I was fortunate to have within my circle, fabulous PhD scholars and writers who kept me going.

"Finding your intellectual tribe is essential to your PhD survival kit."

After moving over to Otago, Mere felt the shift in support, especially from Professor Jacob Edmond, who joined Professor Te Punga Somerville to form the second half of her supervisory team and whom she credits for creating a space for Pacific-centred research within the English and Linguistics Programme.

She is also quick to acknowledge her fellow Māori and Pacific scholars Essa Ranapiri and Stacey Kokaua-Balfour, saying "More Pacific literary scholars are coming to English at Otago, so clear the way." When Mere crosses the stage on Saturday, she will become the first Indigenous Pacific scholar to graduate with a PhD in English from Otago, a huge milestone for the English and Linguistics Programme and an inspiration to those who will follow in her footsteps.

Come graduation day, Mere's celebration will be a family affair.

"I have a 13-member graduation party travelling with me from Fiji, Auckland and Hamilton. This is how we celebrate – in packs!

"You can easily spot us because we will all be wearing kalavata and the Rotuman tefui. We will come with our tears of joy as well as wild raucous laughter," she shares.

For Mere, this is only the beginning. After graduation she has already secured the Northwestern University Center for Native American and Indigenous Research's postdoctoral fellowship in Chicago.

There, she will continue exploring archival texts and building on her doctoral work.

"I feel excited and very fortunate that I can jump into this next chapter so soon as it maintains a certain momentum of my research. There is no wait time for ideas to grow rusty."

Looking back, Mere offers encouragement to the next generation of Pacific scholars.

"Set high standards. Do not settle for mediocrity. Bring your A game to your research. Find joy in your work because joy will sustain you throughout your journey and most importantly, find your intellectual tribe."

Mere says her PhD is not just an academic milestone but a reminder of the strength of her heritage, her family and her community.

From Fiji Times (15 August 2025)

Editorial comment | Innovation and progress

By Fred Wesley

It’s good to know that the Government is pursuing the Rotuma Smart Island Project as part of the ITU Smart Islands Program.

This was revealed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Communications Manoa Kamikamica.

He confirmed this while speaking at the Pacific Fiber and Training conference at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa in Nadi this week.

Work, he said, was underway to transform Rotuma into a model smart island by integrating innovative digital solutions that improve resilience, sustainability and quality of life for the community.

This initiative, he said, would focus on areas such as smart energy management, digital health, e-education and sustainable infrastructure, demonstrating how smart technologies can be tailored to meet the unique needs of Pacific island communities.

That’s well and good.

In fact it’s the way to go, and we look up to the powers that be to ensure this is the first step in developing our other outer islands around the country. Innovation is no longer a futuristic concept reserved for large, developed nations.

Under the Universal Service Scheme, Mr Kamikamica said, the Government recognised that connectivity must reach beyond urban centres.

We’ve got to consider the fact that the future of our outer islands may depend on our willingness to innovate, adapt, and invest in sustainable, digital transformation.

It is encouraging to know that the Government is serious about placing innovation at the heart of rural and maritime island development.

So, in the face of this latest development, we reflect on the fact that many of Rotuma’s challenges are not new at all, from roads riddled with potholes, limited connectivity, and an inconsistent power supply which have long hindered economic activity and quality of life. But they are not insurmountable. The fact that the Government is considerate of opportunities through smart technologies is timely and commendable.

We accept that development must be inclusive.

In the end, it is not just about Rotuma. This should be about setting the pace for every outer island and remote community across the country.

As Mr Kamikamica rightly pointed out, connectivity today is as vital as roads, ports, and electricity grids. Every subsea cable, every fiber optic line, and every activated communication tower is another step toward closing the digital divide and empowering communities to take part in the modern economy.

While infrastructure is critical, we say innovation is what brings that to life.

We say, innovation is what enables a child on Rotuma to access the same education resources as one in Suva. It allows remote medical consultations, renewable energy systems, digital financial services, and data-driven farming techniques, which create self-sufficient, resilient communities.

In saying that, we also acknowledge the resilience of our people. Islanders have, for generations, adapted to harsh environments with resourcefulness and strength. The introduction of smart technologies should be about strengthening it, giving communities the tools to thrive in a changing world while preserving the values and traditions that define them.

We hope what happens in Rotuma will set the tone for the rest of the country.

We hope it will inspire similar initiatives in Lau, Kadavu, the Yasawas, and Lomaiviti for instance.

In the end, the story of Rotuma can become a beacon of what’s possible when commitment meets creativity!

From Fiji Times (14 August 2025)

Government targets Rotuma for smart island initiative

By Salote Qalubau

THE government is pursuing the Rotuma Smart Island Project as part of the ITU Smart Islands Programme, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Communications Manoa Kamikamica.

He cofirmed this while delivering his speech at the Pacific Fiber and Training conference at the Softel Fiji Resort and Spa in Nadi yesterday.

"We are working to transform Rotuma into a model smart island by integrating innovative digital solutions that improve resilience, sustainability and quality of life for the community," he said.

"This initiative will focus on areas such as smart energy management, digital health, e-education and sustainable infrastructure, demonstrating how smart technologies can be tailored to meet the unique needs of Pacific island communities."

Mr Kamikamica said under the Universal Service Scheme, the Government recognises that connectivity must reach beyond urban centres.

"To address this, Fiji is implementing the Connecting the Unconnected Project. Phase One of this national initiative will cover 126 sites across the country,
focusing on expanding access and bridging the digital divide.

"This is a key part of our commitment to ensure that all Fijians, regardless of location, have the opportunity to participate fully in the digital economy."

Mr Kamikamica stressed that connectivity is no longer a luxury.

"It is essential national infrastructure, as critical as our roads, portsand energy grids. Every subsea cable landed, every kilometer of fibre laid, every tower switched on brings us closer to a more connected, prosperous and resilient Pacific."

From Fiji Times (7 August 2025)

Scientists explore Rotuma seas

By Jake Wise

Students of Rotuma during their tour with the National Geographic Pristine Seas ship.
Picture: National Geographic Pristine Seas FB

For the first time in history, the deep and biodiverse waters surrounding Rotuma are being formally explored.

Last month, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change confirmed that no prior scientific research had been conducted in Rotuma’s deep-sea ecosystems.

That changed with the launch of a new expedition in partnership with National Geographic’s Pristine Sea team, who arrived in Rotuma as the first stop on a months-long marine study across Fiji.

The expedition, which runs from April to September, is being conducted at the invitation of the Fijian Government and the Council of Rotuma, and involves collaboration with the ministries of Environment, Fisheries and Forests, and iTaukei Affairs, as well as Blue Prosperity Fiji.

In a statement, National Geographic said the team would collect ecological data and produce two documentary films that explore the deep connection between Fijian communities and the sea.

Council of Rotuma chairman Gagaj Manav welcomed the effort, describing it as a “milestone achievement” for the island.

“Exploring our ocean under the stewardship of Rotuma and her people is a milestone achievement,” he said.

“Rotuma is committed to protecting our cultural heritage anchored in the ocean that surrounds us and to safeguarding our people’s wellbeing through science, education, awareness, cooperation-assistance, and well-meaning dialogue.”

The project aimed to gather crucial data about Rotuma’s marine life while promoting sustainable conservation and protection efforts.

Senior Director for Pacific Ocean Policy at Pristine Seas, Kevin Chand, said the project would support Fiji’s national efforts to strengthen marine protections by 2030.

“The expedition aims to leverage and complement this work and support Fiji as it seeks to achieve its conservation goals,” Mr Chand said.

The findings from the expedition are expected to inform future marine protection strategies while showcasing the ecological and cultural significance of Rotuma’s ocean territory.