Celebrating the Year of Biodiversity

Fiji Sun News - 3 July 2010

Manage, share and  earn from i qoliqoli  biodiversity: Nataleira village has a well kept secret, the playful and graceful dolphins in the i qoliqoli. Long being part of their seascape, the villagers delight their visitors by sharing this secret and they have been doing so for a couple of years. Naturally, the dolphins became the magnet that pulled staff of WWF, the conservation organisation, to take their meeting to ‘Natalei Ecolodge’ in the village. The ecolodge is owned by Nataleira, one of 11 villages in the tikina Dawasamu and houses local and overseas tourists while generating income for the villagers.  A meeting room is the newest addition to the Natalei Ecolodge. As it were, the WWF team is first to use the beach side meeting room and no doubt, countless others will follow. Set in a row, fifty feet from the black sandy beach, the six thatch bures built with local materials by the villagers are ordinary but quaint, comfortable and clean. Drifting asleep on and waking to the gentle burst of waves crashing on the beach is soothing and brings memories of hard work and a carefree childhood in my seaside village.  From the wooden decking under the dilo tree, no reef system is visible on the horizon and one stares out to the expanse of open sea.  Coral reefs are submerged in this i qoliqoli giving the illusion of open waters. ‘Moon reef’, called thus for its shape, is one of these and is home to the famed dolphins of Nataleira, a pod of 30 to 50 spinner dolphins. I have no doubt that connections to the dolphins live on still in local stories and legends.  The Dawasamu i qoliqoli is 150.01 sq. kms or the size of 21,430 rugby fields and no fishing of any type is allowed in the ‘tabu’ or protected area, which takes up an area the size of 157 rugby fields.  Those that have been studying this i qoliqoli say fish numbers are rising, sizes are bigger, there is more variety caught, the coral reefs are healthier and family income associated with fishing is increasing compared to a couple of years ago.  A management plan to guide the use of the collective iqoliqoli, and protect the dolphins, was put together in 2006 by the tikina and enforced on behalf of the tikina by the coastal villages of Nataleira, Silana, Nasinu, Lolomalevu and Driti, to address the increased take of fish and the associated damage it brings. With benefits from managed i qoliqoli’s seen and felt by i qoliqoli stewards, there is renewed commitment and resolve by the Dawasamu community, to improve and maintain the health and bounty of the i qoliqoli “Me kedra sasalu tawa mudu na noda kawa” or ‘everlasting fish for our future generation’.  In this mission, they are joined by 127 other groups of i qoliqoli stewards, from 67 out of 127 tikina across the provinces of Lau, Rewa, Tailevu, Serua, Lomaiviti, Ra, Ba, Nadroga, Macuata, Cakaudrove and Bua, members of the Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area (FLMMA) network. Fiji and Pacific Islands – guardians of the largest ocean: The Fiji Government in a bold move, announced in 2005, at the ten year review of the Barbados Plan of Action (BPoA) in Mauritius, its commitment “by 2020, at least 30 per cent of Fiji’s inshore and offshore marine areas (i qoliqoli) will have come under a comprehensive, ecologically, representative networks of MPAs, which are effectively managed and financed.” Underpinning the confidence to make this call is the extensive work on the ground by the FLM MA network. This did two things. It set Fiji on a course to meet its protected area commitment to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD). Secondly, it triggered a chain of events in the Pacific that saw the Micronesia challenge launched at the Conference of Parties (CoP) to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in Curitiba, Brazil in 2007 by the leaders of Micronesia, the commitment of the Kiribati government for the Phoenix islands MPA and across the Caribbean in a similar commitment.  Globally, this became the largest collective MPA network commitment at the time.  Home to the world’s highest proportion of endemic species per unit of land, the Pacific Islands region consequently has the highest number of threatened species in the world. Amongst other things, the region boasts 41 per cent of the world’s tropical coral reefs and the world’s richest tuna fisheries. It is home to many vulnerable and endangered marine species including: 6 of the 7 extant species of marine turtle, the last remaining nesting population of Western Pacific Leatherback turtles and 9 of the 11 whale species. Investing in the  nature of Fiji: The Fiji Government through the National Trust of Fiji and the Protected Area Committee has started in the past two years the identification of crucial areas for biodiversity, biological and ecological processes towards planning for and putting in place a national network of protected areas across the land, waterways and the seas of Fiji. The FLMMA network is an important building block in this process, bringing in a broad base of community views and inputs. In the last 10 years, FLMMA has strengthened itself through members gaining new and sharpening existing skills, experience and in leadership qualities. As well as an investment of roughly over 6 million Fijian dollars (through the FLMMA secretariat and to partner organizations) in gathering information on fish and the i qoliqoli, setting up and monitoring local protected areas, social and economic information of households, sharing lessons and best practice at national, regional and international forums and facilitating workshops at LMMA partner sites in Asia Pacific. Many pioneering community stewards and organisation partner officers passed away during this time. Although saddened at their passing, I have wonderful memories of meetings around the country, the tension–filled as well as funny moments with those I worked closely with. I am greatly encouraged as well, that others equally passionate and committed have come on board to take their place. The good things resulting from the FLMMA network is their legacy and a celebration of hard work, commitment to future generation and the never say die attitude they have invested in the cause. WWF’s choice of Nataleira for its meeting was guided by the fact the village is part of the FLMMA network. It was logical therefore to invest our ‘costs’ into a i qoliqoli fund raising effort and be confident that this will support the aspirations of the community towards improving the children’s education, members livelihood and the long term care of its ‘natural bank’ –– their i qoliqoli and natural resource. A natural investment  –– the FLMMA network: The shared dream of sustaining into the future the ‘benefits’ of a well managed i qoliqoli through free or affordable fish for our children and the enjoyment by the next generation of global citizens, vibrant coral reef systems filled with varied colourful and amazing attendant life forms, and other unseen benefits this brings, has been the reason and driver for much investment of money, time, emotion, energy and unwavering commitment over many years by many people, communities and organisations. To keep tabs of changes and benefits and keep the people informed, regular measurement of catches, enforcing compliance to i qoliqoli rules, continuing education, meetings of committees and fish wardens, communicating decisions to i qoliqoli households, regular monitoring surveys, presentation at tikina and provincial meetings, and attending annual network meetings are must actions for i qoliqoli managers into the future. I qoliqoli management structure set up, fund raising for long term management, skills and capacity building of i qoliqoli committees, fish wardens and site managers are on going to then completely take on management as funding, capacity and skills provided by partner organisations are fazed out from site at the end of project funding.  FLMMA with its partner Community Conservation Investment Fund (CCIF), based in Bali, Indonesia, are working out the investment required for FLMMA to finance these network activities at site levels in the next 30 years.  The plan is designed for the local community i qoliqoli stewards, the organisation partners, enlightened local Corporates, Government Aid Agencies (GAA) and Foundations sharing FLMMA’s vision and who recognise that an investment in nature is an investment in the future, an insurance policy which will pay back many times over for years to come. Not just in terms of fish for local people, vitally important of course but also in providing and maintaining the sturdy offshore reef system, protecting our villages against the worst excesses of climate change, and in the special but not unique case of Nataleira, marine wildlife which will like us draw tourists to come and spend their dollars directly in the community. A step at a time: A believer in taking small steps at a time, FLMMA has a little over FJ$100,000 to start the ball rolling immediately, earned over the years from various sources. Firstly an award won through the global Equator Initiative competition in 2002; financial contribution from Conservation International (CI) for FLMMA support on its global marine managed area (MMA) research and from financial contribution through ‘adopt a mangrove, adopt a coral reef, and or adopt a coral’ at the www.sasalutawamudu.org website, a collaboration between the University of the South Pacific’s Institute of Applied Science, a FLMMA member and its US based partner, University of Georgia Tech. Qoliqoli Committees in many FLMMA sites, are fundraising towards their own financial needs for the management of their own i qoliqolis in the long term. For example, WWF with it’s partners, the districts of Dreketi, Macuata, Sasa & Mali have in the past 2 years organised the Great Sea Reef Rugby Sevens (GSR 7) tournaments to raise funds for the i qoliqoli management into the future. Similar initiatives are in process and in place at Korolevu-i-wai in Nadroga, Navukavu in Rewa and Kubulau in Bua. Living off the i qoliqoli - the way of life for many : At sunrise on the second day, I indulged in a childhood pastime of walking the beach where the sea rolls back over the sand, watching my footprint disappear and pretending no one would know with no print to tell. I looked up at the stretch of curved beach ahead, the black sand dotted white with broken bleached coral and shells strewn across it like a swathe of stars on a cloudless night sky. I watched little fishes moving effortlessly in a waterway without a telltale ripple on the surface, marvelling at the still and clear water under the large ivi and mangrove trees lining the sides of the waterway. Across it, a water pipe hangs mid air anchored to trees on either side. From afar, the pipe looked like the top part of a net and I thought to myself that the baby fishes would be trapped when the tide flow out. Of course the villagers are part of FLMMA and know about not trapping or killing baby fishes, the future catch. The noise from a group of WWF staff playing rugby on the beach caused me to turn back. I thought to myself, it is possible for our great grandchildren to have walks on litter free beaches like this one anywhere in Fiji. I paused in front of my bure to pick from the damp grass the freshly fallen bunch of pale yellow flowers (sei) of the pandanus or vadra tree, with its sweet smelling powdery dust scenting the morning air still. After a week in Nataleira, I returned with excitement, a bit of nostalgia and a certainty that with like minded corporations and groups committed to protecting and making the nature of Fiji (her birds, her trees, her waterways, her seas, her fishes, her coral reefs, her turtles & whales, her people, her cultures and her way of life) work for her –– then the Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area thirty year financing plan has to be realised. My grandchildren now know the local secret and are not content on just knowing. ‘I want to see them jump out of the water and hear their voices’, Ana Maria my grand daughter declares, holding me to my promise to return to Nataleira and to the ‘Natalei Ecolodge’ with her, her sister Talei Qativi, cousin Kilagi Amanda and older brother, Livai Peter Sausauvou. Kesaia Tabunakawai, WWF South Pacific Programme –– a Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area (FLMMA) network partner and chair of FLMMA Long Term Financing Working Group.

State to on-lease native land via 'land bank'

Fiji Live News - July 02, 2010 

A land bank has been set up through which native owners can allow government to use their property for development purposes and on-lease it at market rates, Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has announced.

Delivering the address for the 2010 revised Budget, Bainimarama said potential investors and farmers can sub-lease or lease land from the State for a period of up to 99 years from the land bank.

At a post-Budget press conference, permanent secretary for Lands, Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni said: “The NLTB (Native Land Trust Board) will continue to deal with native leases and for interested native land owners who want to give up their land for development, they can visit the land bank and they can give in their land and the land reform unit will address it from there on.”

The land bank is officially known as the Land Use Unit and is established under the Land Use Decree 2010.

Announcing details of the decree in a separate statement, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the unit will only use land that has been designated by native titled landowners, from whom consent will have to be obtained.

Sayed-Khaiyum said that there is currently a substantial amount of both native land and crown land that is vacant and available and not utilised to its full potential. 

“Given that the current land reform policy increases economic development, it is imperative that land is made available for utilisation,” he said.

He said the existing laws pertaining to leasing of both crown and native lands are cumbersome and bureaucratic.

“The long processes and the delay to finalise leases frustrates applicants and therefore reduces the development of the economy in general.”

“The State will, at all times, take into consideration the best interest of the landowners while leasing native land.”

He said the decree will also provide for the leasing of all available crown land.

Proposal targets village marriages

Fiji Times - Friday, July 02, 2010

ALL village men who intend to get married must build a house and have a plantation before marriage.

This is a proposal under soon-to-be enacted village by-laws.

It is understood that this proposal has been the norm in several villages for a while now.

Under the draft village by-laws, no married men should hit or abuse their wives. The proposal states all houses built in a village must first be approved by the head of the landowning unit and head of the yavusa before construction begins.

It adds there must be a 12-metre space between each house and all homes must have a kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom and toilet.

No house, however, must be bigger than that of the head of the vanua.

Under the proposed laws all boats operating from villages must be licensed before operations begin.

The boats must have the appropriate equipment.

Checks will be conducted by the village headman before the craft is used for fishing or transport.

By-law ban attempt

by Reijeli Kikau
Fiji Times - Friday, July 02, 2010

SMOKING will be banned in village meeting halls under the proposed by-laws.

The draft states all public places within the village such as the community halls and kindergartens and private homes declared no smoking zones, will be smoke-free.

In addition, the by-laws make provisions for the proper disposal of rubbish.

Rubbish must be separated from compost and disposed of accordingly. Villagers will not be allowed to throw rubbish carelessly in the village, on the foreshore or in rivers.

The villagers will be expected to keep animals away from rivers and sources of drinking water. If rubbish is not disposed of under the village laws, the matter must be reported during meetings.

The proposed law states that shouting, singing unnecessarily loudly, increasing the volume of the radio, calling loudly and increasing the volume of television will be considered noise pollution.

The proposed by-laws come under the ambit of the Fijian Affairs Ministry, which is conducting a consultation process around the country. Several provinces are discussing the proposal.

Saqani Village in Isolation

by Theresa Ralogaivau

Fiji Times - Friday, July 02, 2010

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Sereima Vakaraubogi and her grandchildren at Valovoni Village in Saqani. Government officials will visit the village more often so as to save villagers the long trip to Savusavu.

DEEP in the heart of Saqani district, Cakaudrove, villagers of Valovoni walk 22 kilometres to catch a bus to access health services, markets and play a role in the northern economy.

It's the only land they have so leaving is not an option. But they are crying out for a good road so that bus services can reach them.

Village elder Josua Vosawale said he could walk a whole day, from 6am to 5pm, just to catch a bus.

"The village is so isolated, we are in a world of our own," he said.

Children are a notable absence as they are all away in boarding schools from Class One because it was too expensive, at $90 for each carrier hire, to return home for the weekend.

"We have fertile land for agriculture and we want to supply the market with root crops and vegetables and earn an income but it's just too difficult because of the transportation difficulties," Mr Vosawale said.

Roko Tui Cakaudrove Ro Aca Mataitini assured villagers that the State's rural development plan involved having road access and buses reaching every village on mainland Viti Levu and Vanua Levu by 2012.

"Children barely see their parents during the school terms," Ro Aca said.

"So what we are doing to help them out instead of them coming over to Savusavu the provincial office and government officials are visiting Valovoni every now and then."

Valovoni is the furthest village from the provincial office in Yaroi, Savusavu, being 145km away.

Rain fails to stop party for Rakiraki becoming a Town

by MARAGRET WISE

Fiji Times - Friday, July 02, 2010

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Celebrations of meke was the order of the day at the official inauguration of Rakiraki town.

RAKIRAKI was declared a town yesterday under a light drizzle which failed to dampen the spirits of the hundreds that gathered to witness the historic event.

Head of government Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama urged the residents of the rural outpost to embrace the ideals that made up a township.

He maintained that citizens needed to ensure that town rates were duly met in order for the council to diligently provide services.

Commodore Bainimarama also said Rakiraki residents needed to be vigilant against all crime, especially corruption.

"If you see something illegal going on, report it to the police immediately," he said.

The people of Ra were treated to a spirited performance by the police marching band and entertained by the police jazz band during the day-long event.

Rakiraki had first proposed developing a town near Rakiraki Village in the 1930s. After the Vaileka Centre was established several attempts to declare Rakiraki as a town were shelved. Consultations on registering Rakiraki as a town came about after a directive by Commodore Bainimarama in February this year. The population of urban Rakiraki of of September 2007 was 4952 - higher than the towns of Tavua and Levuka. Cabinet has this week approved regulations that will establish an interim administrator and committee to oversee the governance of the town.

Clan heads told to register

Fiji Times - Friday, July 02, 2010

A DRIVE to have all clan and landowning unit leaders recognised by the Native Lands Commission has begun in Cakaudrove.

Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu

Provincial council officers have visited most of the 134 villages in the province, urging villagers to have their leaders acknowledged by the commission.

This week Roko Tui Cakaudrove, Ro Aca Mataitini, visited Valovoni Village in the heart of Saqani where he urged members of the mataqali Nakadruma to choose their leader.

Since Nakadruma is the leading mataqali in the village, the head will automatically be the Bolawaqa clan (yavusa) head.

The name of the chosen person is submitted to NLC for verification and confirmation.

Ro Aca said ensuring clan and landowning unit leaders were recognised by the NLC would allow the leaders to command and muster the respect of other villagers, thus fewer disagreements in villages and less confusion over traditional titles.

"As it is there is a lot of disagreement and villagers may be divided over whom to listen to because of confusion in the leadership," he said.

Most of the clan and unit leaders not recognised by the NLC are concentrated in Wailevu district where only about 25 of the 121 yavusa and turaga ni mataqali are acknowledged by the commission.

Village headmen payments on hold

Friday, July 02, 2010

PAYMENTS of quarterly allowances for village headmen (turaga ni koro) in Cakaudrove are on hold until they submit required reports.

The measure was been employed to ensure village headmen earn their $150 every three months.

Headmen were supposed to receive their payments this week.

Roko Tui Cakaudrove Ro Aca Mataitini said the measure should be viewed positively as it would obligate each headman to carry out his duties.

"It includes ensuring that the village is kept clean to ensure a healthy living environment," he said. "They must submit reports every three months if they don't they don't get their allowance.

"The assistant Roko will have to scrutinise and check their reports, I am also making a point of checking to see what they have written because what we have observed is that they say they are writing about things they say they have done but really something else is happening.

"In one particular village the headman has been very vocal but when we visited the village it was overgrown with grass so we blame the turaga ni koro. It's his responsibility there should be a special day for cleaning up and we are asking all the turaga ni koro to see that their villages are clean."

Ro Aca said village headmen also had a duty not to take sides in disputes within villages, mediate differences and see that peace was maintained within the village at all times.

Illegal Fiji PM Calls for Land Changes

Fiji Sun News - 01 July 2010

Sai's Comments: Watch this! This is precisely what Fijians fear - the illegal regime now making it easy to decide on the use and misuse of native land. What he has done is to politicise the management of native land by replacing the President who is supposed to be above politics with himself thereby subsuming decisions about native land to suit his political agenda. OOps then again, may well not be much difference at the moment!! The President just so happens as well to be illegal and highly political anyway so the difference is insignificant to say the least. But alas, Fijians have better watch out now as decisions about native land have now come directly under the authority of this illegal and dictatorial regime to do whatever they like with it.  If any Fijian soldier and land owner in the regime's military need any convincing about the corrupt intentions of the regime, look no further. You all now have a good reason to do whatever is necessary to rid this illegal regime and restore democracy to Fiji and its people and land owners. To wait is to allow this illegal regime to sell out Fijian land to the highest bidders to fund the bloated Budget of the illegal regime.  Remember, the Chinese and other Asian investors, and yes lately, the Arabs also are in the illegal PM's pocket and lining up to get a parcel of native Fijian land. What the illegal PM has done is make it much more easy and in an underhand way to achieve his evil intentions. Cabinet yesterday approved the Native Land Trust (Amendment) Decree 2010 and the Fijian Affairs (Amendment) Decree 2010.  The decision was based on a submission by the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. He said Native Land Trust (Amendment) Decree 2010 repeals and replaces section 3(1) of the Native Land Trust Act, thereby changing the membership of the NLTB board as follows: (a) the Minister as Chairman; (b) five members, all of whom must be members of indigenous land owning units, appointed by the Minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs; (c) three members appointed by the Indigenous Affairs Board from a list of nominees submitted by provincial councils to the Indigenous Affairs Board. (d) two other members, appointed by the Minister. He said the Native Land Trust (Amendment) Decree 2010 also made consequential changes to section 18 of the Native Land Trust Act, to give the Minister, rather than the President, the power to set aside land as native reserves. “In addition, a new section is inserted to ensure that all documents of the NLTB, which contain any reference to the President, are amended accordingly be removing any reference to the President and replacing it with a reference to the Minister.”

Tui Suva laid to rest

Fiji Sun News - 01 July 2010

Roko Tui Suva, Ratu Epeli Kanakana Kinitavaya, 85, was laid to rest at the chiefly burial site, Nadonumai, a hill atop the Suva Cemetery yesterday. His funeral was attended by relatives and representatives from various government ministries. Ratu Epeli was battling heart disease before he died in his home at Suvavou late last week. A church service was held in Suvavou village, Lami,s and was conducted by Reverend Kalivati Ravoka. Also present was the Marama Na Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa, President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and President for the Methodist Church, Reverend Ame Tugue. The Tui Suva’s son, Joji Kuruduadua, 42, said that his father was a man of his words. "He really helped his people and the vanua.  "I really miss him and I will always remember him as a family man.  "I was at his bedside when he passed away," he said. Mr Kuruduadua said that his father was always concerned when criminal activities took place in Suvavou Village and was a kind hearted person. "When something bad happens in our village, he will call for a village meeting and punish whoever was responsible for it.  "Or he would step in and render his advice to the young people in our village," he said. Ratu Epeli Kanakana was the traditional ruler of the area that includes Suva city, the nation's capital.  The Tui Suva title is reserved within the Naivutuvutu family of the Tokatoka Solia of Mataqali Vuanimocelolo of the yavusa Vatuwaqa.  He also owns the biggest area of land in the Rewa province. Ratu Epeli is survived by his wife, Vilisi Kubou of Vunaniu, Serua, a son and three grandchildren.

Creature drives villagers ashore

by Theresa Ralogaivau

Fiji Times - Tuesday, June 29, 2010

A STRANGE looking marine creature reportedly spotted in lagoon waters of three villages in Cakaudrove are keeping fishermen and divers away from sea.

Naiqaqi Village headman Jepeca Nakuvu said villagers from the neighbouring village of Laucala and Valeni were scared of going out to sea because of the creature.

Ateca Disukavanua, 50, said she was fishing near a copse of mangrove called Dogodogo on Monday when she saw a black creature swimming towards her.

"At first I thought it was a log but then it moved closer and I was so scared because the water was up to my waist I jumped on top of a mangrove stump," she said. "I hung on to that mangrove tree for about an hour and the creature, which was about three foot long, and had flippers like that of a turtle and had a strange long mouth.

"I had never seen such a thing before in my life. I was shaking because it kept hanging around as if it smelt the place where I was standing.

"I only got down when the tide went out and the water was only ankle high."

Mr Nakuvu said men from the three villages armed themselves with cane knives, digging forks and spears and looked for the creature hoping to kill it.

"When we know it is dead we will go out to sea because we are scared because this is something that we are not familiar with," he said.

The village headman said they had lodged a complaint at the Savusavu Police Station.

Shell used as communication tool

by Anare Ravula

Fiji Times - Friday, June 25, 2010

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Rev Mosese Beranayarayara, left, with Osea Moce holding the davui used to send messages to the gods

A DAVUI used in the 1700s to send messages to the gods during tribal warfare was found during a spiritual healing ceremony at Nakalavo Village in Nadroga last week.

Tabanivono Methodist circuit minister, Reverend Mosese Beranayarayara says the trumpet shell or triton was used by pre-Christian Fijians to call upon the gods.

"This allows the gods to fight against their enemies," he said.

Mr Beranayarayara said during the healing, villager Aporosa Namisi's family testifies that they continuously suffered from unexplained illnesses which began four generations ago.

"I told them during the healing they must have kept an item that their forefathers used during their worship to the kalou-vu (ancestral gods)," he said.

He said one of the women said there was a davui on one of the shelves which always attracted her attention whenever she carried out her home chores.

"Little did they know that was cause of their illness over the years from their forefathers until now," he said.

He said Mr Namisi explained the shell was used by his forefathers four generations ago.

Gau native Osea Moce said he had only seen a picture of the davui at the Levuka historical exhibition house at the old capital of Fiji in Ovalau.

"Seeing it here with my naked eyes is a wonder," he said.

"I wonder how the message was relayed to the gods."

Attached to the pointed end of the davui is the magimagi (coconut sinnet) which is plaited in a hose pipe-like shape.

It is believed that the hollow part carried the message that had been blown out to flow through the passage into the thin air reaching the gods.

Upon receiving the message the gods would in turn fight off the enemies that tried to invade the village or the vanua.

After the spiritual cleansing, Mr Beranayarayara took the davui to the Fiji Museum which houses an extensive archeological collection dating back 3700 years and relics of Fiji's indigenous cultural history.

Fiji Museum registrar Sela Rayawa confirmed the davui was brought in and Mr Beranayarayara signed a Deed of Absolute Gift allowing its preservation.

"We will now conduct an investigation to confirm its background history," Mr Rayawa said.

Mr Rayawa said this was the third such gift received by the Fiji Museum.