Fiji Courts Closed Nationwide on Monday as Tropical Cyclone Vaianu Triggers Safety Measures

All courts across Fiji will be closed on Monday, April 8, as authorities move to protect the public and court staff amid adverse weather linked to Tropical Cyclone Vaianu, the Judiciary announced.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Chief Registrar Tomasi Bainivalu said the closure is a precautionary measure taken “in light of the latest reports on Tropical Cyclone Vaianu” and is intended to safeguard the health, safety and well‑being of court users, judicial officers and staff. The statement said only matters scheduled before the Supreme Court will proceed as planned on Monday; all other hearings and court services are suspended for the day.

Bainivalu said normal court operations will resume once weather conditions have improved and it is deemed safe to do so. No further guidance on rescheduling of affected hearings or the handling of urgent matters was included in the announcement, but the closure follows the Judiciary’s responsibility to limit travel and gatherings when severe weather threatens public safety.

The shutdown will affect magistrates’ courts, the High Court and other tribunals and registries across the country. Many routine court functions—filing, in‑person appearances and registry services—are expected to be disrupted while the weather event is under way. Parties with urgent or time‑sensitive matters should monitor official Judiciary communications for updates on when operations will restart and for any directions on emergency filings or applications.

Tropical Cyclone Vaianu has prompted precautionary actions across government and services in recent days as forecasts indicated widespread adverse weather. The Judiciary’s move echoes similar closures and service interruptions that agencies implement ahead of or during severe weather to reduce risk to the public and staff.

This is the latest operational change as authorities respond to the cyclone. The public is being urged to follow updates from the Fiji Meteorological Service and official channels about weather conditions and service availability. The Judiciary has said it will issue further notices once a decision has been made to reopen courts.