Fiji’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, recently met with representatives from Te Whānau o Waipareira in Auckland, focusing on enhancing the well-being of communities in both countries.
Te Whānau o Waipareira, a non-profit organization founded in 1984, offers a variety of services including health, housing, social justice, and education for Māori and other ethnic groups in New Zealand.
During the discussion, Ratu Inoke commended Te Whānau o Waipareira for its exceptional support to Māori communities in urban settings. He expressed interest in learning from their successful initiatives to implement similar programs in Fiji.
“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.
The Commissioner underscored the Fijian government’s dedication to affirmative action for iTaukei individuals in areas of business and education.
Chairman Raymond Hall and CEO John Tamihere appreciated the discussions and acknowledged the long-standing relationship between Fiji and New Zealand. Tamihere conveyed his eagerness to explore direct economic and social exchanges to deepen this relationship.
Ratu Inoke was joined by Second Secretary Josua Tuwere and Auckland Fijian community leaders Rachel Mario and Nik Naidu, who contributed to the conversations aimed at fostering stronger collaboration.
These efforts align with Fiji’s Foreign Policy White Paper, recently endorsed by the Cabinet.