Villagers in Nasau have gathered to celebrate the civil union of the Turaga na Tui Nasau, Vonivate Vetaukula, and his partner of 20 years, Selai Vetaukula. The couple exchanged vows on Thursday during a modest ceremony held at the Nasau Village hall.
Among the witnesses were family members and government officials, including Justice Minister Siromi Turaga, as the event was part of the Ministry of Justice’s outreach initiatives. Mr. Vetaukula, who is 83, shared that they had intended to formalize their union multiple times but were often sidetracked by family obligations and commitments to the vanua.
“We have been together for a long time,” Mr. Vetaukula stated. He explained that his work with the Public Works Department required extensive travel across the country, which complicated their plans.
Over the past two years, the couple has made several trips to the government station to arrange their civil union. Mr. Vetaukula expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to have the ceremony easily accessible to them.
“We are blessed to have the government sector here with us. It’s not every day we get this opportunity,” he remarked. “We usually travel all the way to Suva for such a service. It’s amazing how the Lord has planned ahead for us. Today, we can say, we are blessed.”