Jieni Taoba has always regarded the islands as her home, whether in her Fijian village or in Niue, which has unexpectedly become her permanent haven.
“I came here in 1979 on a one-year teaching assignment,” Ms. Taoba recalls from her early career. “I was meant to stay for just a year, but circumstances changed.”
That initial one-year position turned into a lifelong commitment as Ms. Taoba, originally from Lakeba in Lau, became a key figure in the Niuean community. Sent by the South Pacific Commission to fill a home economics teaching role, she rapidly took charge of the school’s department and eventually rose to become the principal of Niue High School, impacting the lives of countless students.
“I’ve taught almost three-quarters of the island,” she laughs, adding that she often encounters former students in New Zealand or around Niue.
Her experiences navigating between Fiji and Niue mirror those of many Pacific Islanders who balance multiple cultural identities. After graduating from the University of the South Pacific in the 1970s, Ms. Taoba began her teaching career in Fiji at Laucala Bay Secondary and Nabua Secondary before moving to Niue at the age of 22.
After nearly 30 years in Niue, she spent several years in the United States before returning in 2016 to enjoy her retirement. “I’ve had chances to move to New Zealand where my children are, but something keeps me here. It’s a slower pace of life, and it’s peaceful.”
While her roots are firmly planted in Fiji, she acknowledges that Niue has become more than a temporary residence. “This place has grown on me. My children visit regularly, and it’s comforting to know they have a home to return to,” she shares.
All four of her children—three daughters and a son—reside in New Zealand, along with her eight grandchildren. When asked about what she misses most about Fiji, she simply says, “Family.”
With the loss of her parents and other close relatives, she feels less inclined to return to her homeland, visiting only occasionally. Instead, she enjoys maintaining her home and garden, engaging in sewing, and soaking in the natural beauty around her.
Although she remains connected to the local Fijian community, she passes much of the organizational work to younger members of the Fijian diaspora. “The Fijian community here has expanded a lot since I arrived,” she notes.
Despite the changes she has observed in both Niue and Fiji, Ms. Taoba stays true to the values of resilience, hard work, and a strong connection to her Pacific heritage. She finds fulfillment in her quiet life on the island she now proudly calls home.