Over 3,100 acres of ancestral land in Vitogo, Lautoka, have been officially returned to the original iTaukei landowning units, concluding a long-standing wait for land that was no longer necessary for public use. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka presided over the handover of Native Grant 187, marking the occasion as a significant step towards restoring identity, history, and justice for the iTaukei community.
“For the iTaukei, land is life,” Mr. Rabuka remarked during the event. He acknowledged the lengthy journey many individuals faced, indicating that some had been waiting for decades, with some who initiated the process no longer present to witness the occasion. “We honour them; their patience, belief, and perseverance have led us to this moment,” he added.
The 3,177-acre parcel was initially acquired by the colonial government in 1924 for the Lautoka Water Supply Catchment. With the catchment now deemed no longer in use, the land has been reverted to the mataqali of Tunuloa, Matarisiga, Vidilo, Nadakuvatu, and Noi Batiri. Director of Lands Josefa Vuniamatana noted that water is currently sourced from the Vaturu catchment, prompting the constitutional requirement to return the land. He specified that certain small sections containing active pipelines were excluded from the handover.
Remarkably, Mr. Rabuka had previously approved the reversion of the land in 1999 during his prior term as Prime Minister, but the legal gazetting was completed only on December 23, 2025. He reaffirmed the Coalition Government’s dedication to upholding the Constitution, emphasizing that land taken for public purposes must be returned when it is no longer needed.
“This handover is about restoring what is right. It is about honouring lawful commitments made many years ago and rebuilding trust between the State and the traditional landowners of Vitogo,” Mr. Rabuka concluded, highlighting a positive step towards reconciliation and recognition of indigenous rights in the region.