Fiji’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, recently engaged in a productive meeting with representatives from Te Whānau o Waipareira in Auckland, focusing on enhancing the welfare of communities in both nations.
Te Whānau o Waipareira, established in 1984, is a non-profit organization in New Zealand that offers a wide array of services, including health, housing, social justice, and education, primarily catering to Māori and other ethnic groups.
During the discussions, Ratu Inoke commended Te Whānau o Waipareira for its exceptional contributions and support to Māori communities in urban settings. He expressed a desire to learn from the organization’s successful initiatives and apply similar strategies for Fijians. “We would like to learn what you are doing for Māori and apply similar initiatives for our people in Fiji. I see you are advanced in your efforts, and we invite you, Mr. Tamihere, to visit Fiji soon,” he remarked.
Ratu Inoke also underscored the Fijian government’s commitment to affirmative action, specifically aimed at supporting the iTaukei people in business and education.
Chairman Raymond Hall and Chief Executive Officer John Tamihere appreciated the dialogue and recognized the historical connections between Fiji and New Zealand. Tamihere expressed an openness to exploring direct economic and social partnerships to further enhance the strong relationship between the two nations.
Ratu Inoke was joined by Second Secretary Josua Tuwere along with Auckland Fijian community leaders Rachel Mario and Nik Naidu, who actively contributed to the discussions aimed at strengthening collaboration.
These meetings align with Fiji’s Foreign Policy White Paper, which has recently gained Cabinet approval.