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From The Crowd
Point of Origin | Jannif in the ’60s (Part 3): St Paul’s, UE year, Maori culture and the twins
The 1960s are not referred to as the swinging ’60s for no reason. The cultural revolution against the old-world ways by the new world youth truly heralded the age of Aquarius. From the technological advancements...
Beading her way to FJFW | Helen Oro – First Nation indigenous fashion designer of Canada
We at Fiji Fashion Week are preparing ecstatically to receive the first group of indigenous First Nations people of the Pelican Lake Band from Saskatchewan in the middle of Canada. Fashion and Jewellery Designer Helen Oro is from the Pelican Lake Tribe of the Bear Creek Clan. She is “thrilled to be the first indigenous...
28th May
Postcard from Oxford | Over and out Oxford!
Bula everyone! I did it! After four years I have finally finished studying at the University of Oxford. It feels incredibly surreal, to even type that to all of you, but after years of hard work it is all over. The past few years have been anything but boring, I’ve loved, lost, celebrated, cried but...
27th May
Opinion | A divided aspiration
In the last article in this series, I focused on the activities and festivities that were organised to mark the arrival of the girmitiya in Fiji. In the process, I outlined a number of things that stood out in the organisation of these events. In this piece, let me elaborate and discuss one key point...
Opinion | Crisis in our identity – Rightful place for ‘driftwood’ of the Pacific
Saturday, May 20, 2023 evening bore a gloomy note with overcast skies, blustery winds and pelting rain. There was no secure place except being indoors. And it immensely worried the Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ members who had organised the Fiji Girmit Remembrance Day annual event at the Malaeola Hall, Auckland from 5pm. They feared that...
Opinion | Who failed to protect our media freedom?
On World Press Freedom Day (May 3, 2023) there was an excellent two-page personal account by The Fiji Times Chief Editor (Fred Wesley) on “Never again must we be suppressed”. To refresh your memory about the personal trials and tribulations faced by not just the brave journalists but also their families (including their traumatised young...
Opinion | The 11th Henry Kila Memorial Address: Reversing rural decline in PNG
I was born in the mid-1980s, and grew up in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, in Enga, in Porgera District, in a beautiful government outpost called Kolombi, which was established by early Christian missionaries during the colonial era. During its heyday, Kolombi was more than just a government outpost. When I was a kid,...
Being a good pet owner | ‘They’re a source of endless blessings’
This article refers mostly to dogs as pets but could equally apply to cats. A definition of “pet” is interesting: – noun: a domestic or tamed animal kept for companionship; and – verb: stroke or pat (an animal) affectionately. Words such as companionship and affection are important components of the meaning. Patting is important for...
Beyond the Scope | Welfare recipient numbers skyrocket
Social welfare assistance is provided by governments to individuals and families in need. This assistance aims to help individuals meet their basic needs, overcome financial difficulties, and improve their overall wellbeing. Governments design these programs to provide a safety net and help individuals and families overcome temporary or long-term challenges they may face. These safety...
23rd May
Brothers’ triple treat | Born within minutes of each other, graduate on the same day
Identical triplets graduate with law degrees on the very same day. Cale, Max and Jackson Tu’inukuafe, who are of Tongan heritage through their father, all graduated from the Victoria University of Wellington this week. Triplets are rare and according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine identical triplets only occur once in every 10,000 births....
