Jieni Taoba considers the islands her home, whether in her familiar Fijian village or the peaceful refuge of Niue, where she has unexpectedly settled permanently.
“I came here in 1979 on a one-year teaching assignment,” Ms. Taoba reflects on the start of her career. “I was supposed to stay for just a year, but things changed.” That year-long contract extended into a lifetime as the Lakeba native from Lau became deeply integrated into the Niuean community.
Initially sent by the South Pacific Commission to replace a home economics teacher, Ms. Taoba soon took charge of the school’s department. She eventually became the principal of Niue High School, influencing the lives of countless students. “I’ve taught almost three-quarters of the island,” she laughs, noting that she often sees former students while traveling, both in New Zealand and around Niue.
Her journey between Fiji and Niue mirrors the experiences of many Pacific Islanders navigating 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 22 years old.
Following nearly three decades of service in Niue, she spent years in the United States before returning in 2016 for retirement. “I’ve had chances 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.
Though her roots are in Fiji, she acknowledges that Niue has become more than a temporary stop. “This place has grown on me. My children visit regularly, and I like that they have a home to come back to,” she adds. Her three daughters and son reside in New Zealand, along with her eight grandchildren.
When asked what she misses most about Fiji, she simply replies, “Family.” With the loss of her parents and close family members, her visits to Fiji have become less frequent. Now, she spends her days caring for her home and garden, sewing occasionally, and enjoying the natural beauty around her. She engages with the local Fijian community but leaves much of the organizational work to the younger generation.
“The Fijian community here has grown a lot since I first arrived,” she notes. Despite the changes in both Niue and Fiji, Ms. Taoba remains grounded in the values she learned growing up: resilience, hard work, and a deep connection to her Pacific heritage.
She is content to continue her quiet life on the island she now proudly calls home.