The Mataqali Nadala of the Yavusa Nubu in Nadarivatu marked a historic milestone yesterday as Native Grant No. 2 (NG2) — roughly 15,000 acres (6,070 hectares) of land — was formally returned to its original iTaukei landowners after more than 120 years under state ownership. The handover ceremony at Nadala Village, inland of Ba, was officiated by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who framed the return as both a correction of a long-standing grievance and an opportunity for local development.
The land was first acquired by the colonial government in 1905 for public uses including a sanatorium, forest conservation and agricultural projects. Rabuka told the gathering that, with those public purposes no longer prevailing, constitutional provisions allow such lands to revert to their customary owners — a position he said the current government has acted on. “This is a historic moment that reaffirms the deep connection between the iTaukei people and their land and the Government’s responsibility to return land once its intended public purpose has been fulfilled,” he said.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the lengthy administrative and legal work needed to complete the transfer, naming the Ministry of Lands, the iTaukei Affairs Board and the Solicitor‑General’s Office among agencies involved. He also paid tribute to the persistence of the landowning unit, noting the return follows 42 years of efforts by Mataqali Nadala to have NG2 restored to vanua control. “Today, the Government returns ownership of this land to you after more than 120 years. It is now your responsibility to safeguard and utilise it for the benefit of your present and future generations,” Rabuka said.
Rabuka encouraged the landowners to pursue sustainable development models on the returned land, highlighting agriculture, business and tourism as possible avenues to bolster local incomes and community resilience. The size and inland highland location of the Nadarivatu block present opportunities for diversified use, but also pose challenges in infrastructure and market access that will require planning and likely support from government and development partners.
The Nadala handover follows a series of similar returns this year as the government moves to restitute customary land no longer required for public purposes. In January, Ngati iTaukei units received more than 3,100 acres in Vitogo, Lautoka, ending a separate decades‑long quest. Officials say these restitutions are part of a broader approach to align land administration with constitutional safeguards and to enable customary owners to benefit from sustainable land use and conservation finance opportunities.
For Mataqali Nadala, the transfer closes a chapter that began in the early 20th century and opens one focused on local stewardship and economic planning. Government ministers at the ceremony urged cohesive community decision‑making and highlighted the need to balance development ambitions with forest and watershed protection in the highland catchment — lessons drawn from recent national discussions on land, climate resilience and forest finance.
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