More than 3,100 acres of ancestral land in Vitogo, Lautoka, have been officially handed back to their original iTaukei landowning units, concluding a decades-long quest for land that was no longer in public use. The historic handover of Native Grant 187 took place yesterday, with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka presiding over the ceremony and heralding the event as a significant moment for restoring identity, history, and justice.
“For the iTaukei, land is life,” Mr. Rabuka stated during the event. He acknowledged the lengthy journey many landowners have endured, with some waiting for decades and others having passed away before witnessing this pivotal moment. “We honour them; their patience, belief, and perseverance brought us to this moment,” he added.
The 3,177-acre area was initially acquired back in 1924 by the colonial government for the Lautoka Water Supply Catchment. Since the catchment is no longer in use, the land has been returned to the mataqali of Tunuloa, Matarisiga, Vidilo, Nadakuvatu, and Noi Batiri. Director of Lands Josefa Vuniamatana explained that water is now sourced from the Vaturu catchment, which triggered the constitutional requirement for the land’s return, although sections containing active pipelines were excluded from the handover.
Mr. Rabuka noted that he had approved the land’s reversion during his previous tenure as Prime Minister in 1999; however, legal gazetting was only completed on December 23, 2025. He reaffirmed the Coalition Government’s dedication to upholding the Constitution, emphasizing that land taken for public use must be returned when it is no longer necessary.
“This handover is about restoring what is right. It is about honouring lawful commitments made many years ago and rebuilding trust between the State and the traditional landowners of Vitogo,” Mr. Rabuka concluded, signaling a hopeful step forward in the relationship between the government and indigenous communities.
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