Nakorotubu
Encyclopedia
Nakorotubu is a district in Fiji
's Ra Province
. It is made up seven sub-districts or Tikina makawa, namely,
Kavula, Nakorotubu, Navitilevu, Bure-i-wai, Bure-i-vanua, Mataso, and Nakuailava.
, sugar cane, coconut
, taro
, tapioca
and a range of local vegetables are the main trading merchandise.
, Ratu
Dr Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani
, younger brother of also the late Ratu Meli Kuliniasi Salabogi, the previous titleholder, both from the chiefly village of Nabukadra in the district of Kavula.
, a high chief of Bau Island
, who was killed as a result of intra-family rivalries involving his cousin, the then ruler of the kingdom of Bau, Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa
in the early 19th century. At that time, the Gonesau provided superior military support to Bau and was befriended by both Ratu Mara Kapaiwai and his cousin Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa. The grave remains a prominent landmark in the centre of the village to this day.
Nakorotubu is also well known for its richness in culture and tradition. Some of Fiji's best traditional dances or meke come from its villages. The Fiji Military Forces has adopted a number of these mekes as its own, as well as a number for leading public schools in Fiji such as Queen Victoria School and Ratu Kadavulevu School.
The picturesque inland districts are joined to other provinces by the Kings Road, one of the country's main roads, which is struggling to receive sufficient fund to complete the tar-sealing work for the last remaining kilometers.
Development projects are generally carried out on a communal basis with finances coming from government, donors and the people themselves. Examples of projects are village pipe water system, power generation, village toilets and septic tanks, village meeting halls, nursing and health stations, schools and pre-school facilities etc.
Many landowning units are interested in developing their land commercially and whilst there are many options, growing organic produces for export will fetch a healthy return. Given the scarcity of capital, many people will be keen to discuss with prospective investors how they together can develop the land commercially on a joint venture and mutually beneficial basis.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
's Ra Province
Local government of Fiji
Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions, which are further subdivided into fourteen provinces; the self-governing island of Rotuma and its dependencies lie outside any of the four divisions. Each division is headed by a Commissioner, appointed by the Fijian government...
. It is made up seven sub-districts or Tikina makawa, namely,
Kavula, Nakorotubu, Navitilevu, Bure-i-wai, Bure-i-vanua, Mataso, and Nakuailava.
Geography
The first four are coastal districts with extensive inland undulating and rugged terrain, while the rest are all inland. FishingFishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, sugar cane, coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
, taro
Taro
Taro is a common name for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae . Of these, Colocasia esculenta is the most widely cultivated, and is the subject of this article. More specifically, this article describes the 'dasheen' form of taro; another variety is called eddoe.Taro is...
, tapioca
Tapioca
Tapioca is a starch extracted Manihot esculenta. This species, native to the Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and most of the West Indies, is now cultivated worldwide and has many names, including cassava, manioc, aipim,...
and a range of local vegetables are the main trading merchandise.
Chiefly Title
The traditional leader was the late Turaga na GonesauTuraga na Gonesau
The Turaga na Gonesau is a chiefly title of the Fiji Islands and is viewed as a Paramount Chief of Fiji residing in the Nakorotubu District in the Ra Province on the Main Island of Viti Levu.-In Translation:...
, Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Dr Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani
Wilisoni Malani
Ratu Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani OBE, OSTJ, JP was a Fijian chief, medical doctor, and politician. He held the chiefly title of Turaga na Gonesau, or Paramount Chief of the Nakorotubu district in the Province of "Ra" in the western part of Viti Levu...
, younger brother of also the late Ratu Meli Kuliniasi Salabogi, the previous titleholder, both from the chiefly village of Nabukadra in the district of Kavula.
History
In the centre of Nabukadra is the grave of Ratu Mara KapaiwaiMara Kapaiwai
Kamisese Kapaiwai Tuimacilai Mara , chiefly seafarer, and descendant of the Vunivalu of Bau.Ratu Mara's father was Ratu Vuibureta of Bau, who was the son of Ratu Banuve, Vunivalu of Bau...
, a high chief of Bau Island
Bau Island
Bau is a small island in Fiji, off the east coast of the main island of Viti Levu.-History:With the aid of Charlie Savage, who brought firearms to Bau Island, the Bauan people quickly established themselves as an undefeatable military force...
, who was killed as a result of intra-family rivalries involving his cousin, the then ruler of the kingdom of Bau, Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa
Tanoa Visawaqa
Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa was a Fijian Chieftain who held the title Vunivalu of Bau. With Adi Savusavu, one of his nine wives, he was the father of Seru Epenisa Cakobau, who succeeded in unifying Fiji into a single kingdom.- Installation :...
in the early 19th century. At that time, the Gonesau provided superior military support to Bau and was befriended by both Ratu Mara Kapaiwai and his cousin Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa. The grave remains a prominent landmark in the centre of the village to this day.
Nakorotubu is also well known for its richness in culture and tradition. Some of Fiji's best traditional dances or meke come from its villages. The Fiji Military Forces has adopted a number of these mekes as its own, as well as a number for leading public schools in Fiji such as Queen Victoria School and Ratu Kadavulevu School.
Infrastructure and Development
Public infrastructure is not as well developed compared to other districts in Fiji which does not help with people living their daily lives, but there is an impressive degree of resilience and unity among the local people which is a hallmark of the people of Ra Province that enables them to create the best out of their beautiful natural environment.The picturesque inland districts are joined to other provinces by the Kings Road, one of the country's main roads, which is struggling to receive sufficient fund to complete the tar-sealing work for the last remaining kilometers.
Development projects are generally carried out on a communal basis with finances coming from government, donors and the people themselves. Examples of projects are village pipe water system, power generation, village toilets and septic tanks, village meeting halls, nursing and health stations, schools and pre-school facilities etc.
Many landowning units are interested in developing their land commercially and whilst there are many options, growing organic produces for export will fetch a healthy return. Given the scarcity of capital, many people will be keen to discuss with prospective investors how they together can develop the land commercially on a joint venture and mutually beneficial basis.