Jieni Taoba considers the islands her true home, whether in her Fijian village or the peaceful surroundings of Niue, which has become her permanent refuge.
“I came here in 1979 on a one-year teaching secondment,” Ms. Taoba recalls her early career days. “I was supposed to stay for just a year, but things changed.”
What began as a one-year posting transformed into a lifelong commitment as the Lakeba, Lau native immersed herself in the Niuean community. Initially sent by the South Pacific Commission to fill in for a home economics teacher, Ms. Taoba quickly took charge of the school’s department and eventually became the principal of Niue High School, impacting the lives of numerous students.
“I’ve taught almost three-quarters of the island,” she laughs, noting how many of her former students she encounters in New Zealand and around the island.
Her journey between Fiji and Niue illustrates not just her personal story of adaptation but also the shared experiences of many Pacific Islanders balancing multiple cultural identities. After graduating from the University of the South Pacific in the 1970s, Ms. Taoba began her teaching career at Laucala Bay Secondary and Nabua Secondary in Fiji before relocating to Niue at the age of 22.
Following nearly 30 years of service in Niue, she spent time in the United States before returning in 2016 to enjoy her retirement.
“I’ve had opportunities to move to New Zealand where my children live, but something keeps me here. It’s a slower pace of life, and it’s peaceful,” she shares.
Despite her roots in Fiji, Ms. Taoba acknowledges that Niue has become more than just a temporary home. She appreciates that her children visit regularly, allowing her to maintain a family bond. Her children, three daughters and a son, now reside in New Zealand, along with her eight grandchildren.
When asked what she misses most about Fiji, she simply replies, “Family.” With the passing of her parents and other close relatives, her visits to Fiji have become less frequent.
In Niue, she enjoys tending to her home and garden, occasionally sewing, and reveling in the island’s natural beauty. While she stays connected with the local Fijian community, she now entrusts much of the organizational work to younger members of the Fijian diaspora.
“The Fiji community here has grown a lot since I first arrived,” she observes.
Through all the changes she has experienced in both Niue and Fiji, Ms. Taoba remains anchored in the values of resilience, hard work, and a profound connection to her Pacific heritage. She finds contentment in the quiet life on the island she now calls home.