Fijian Language Translation for Te Tiriti O Waitangi (Maori) & Treaty of Waitangi (English) On Track for Treaty Times 30 Project.

Fijian Language Society undertook the task to translate the New Zealand Treaty of Waitangi into the Fijian Language.


Today, Treaty Times 30 expects to receive minimum of three versions to qualify for the inclusion of the Fijian Language Version.


A few individuals who spoke the Fijian Language fluently, have volunteered their time to translate both the English and Maori versions.


The process of finalising these 30 Languages hence 'Treaty Times 30' is the task of Executives from the New Zealand Interpreting & Translation Society. When all the submissions are received from the target 30 different languages, then those that submitted as in the case of the Fijian Language Translators, they would be invited to screen the various Fijian Language versions sent in.


The best will then be chosen. Should the Fijian Language Review Panelists agree on the best version, then that one gets accepted. Alternatively, if the team finds none can be deemed the top then they will work in collaborations to come up with a refined Fijian Language version.


Ultimately, the aim is to collect these 30 different languages of the Treaty of Waitangi and publish them into a book. This book will then be gifted at a special event in September, 2016 to the New Zealand Peoples.


Here's an excerpt of a comment in the Treaty Times 30 website;

The project has received the support of major organisations such as Archives New Zealand, the Office of Ethnic Communities and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

‘The translations of the Treaty of Waitangi in the many languages of our country will add significantly to people’s understanding of New Zealand’s founding agreement,’ Treaty expert Dame Claudia Orange says. ‘The planned publication is an effective way to mark the organisation’s milestone and its long-standing work.’

We are quite excited to be part of this project. Many of the different languages that started before us in early January, 2016 have already completed theirs and are already working in the collaborations phase.


For the Fijian Language Team, we are fortunate to have been given a grace period to complete ours, hence our due date is today, 5pm, Friday 6th May, 2016.


We wish to take this opportunity to thank the Fijian Language Team and also the staff at Treaty Times 30 who have guided us through this process in the last few weeks.


Vinaka Vakalevu & Nga Mihi.


Daunivakavakadewa - Admin Team


Facebook; Fijian-Language-Society 

Fiji Identity Crisis: Fijians Are Indigenous Fijians & Others From Fiji Are Fiji Islanders & Identified By Their Ethnicity.

A Letter set electronically to;

The Chief Executive Officer 

Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage

PO Box 5364
Wellington 6145
New Zealand

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Kia ora & Bula;

In reference to your stories;

 Story: Fijians : Page 1 – The Fijian community in Teara

I am writing to indicate my concern, as a Fijian Language Interpreter in Wellington, New Zealand.

Your title already explains us as Fiji Islanders, to be all the same ethnicity, when in essence, we are not. 

The use of the label 'Taukei' in New Zealand can only be claimed by Maori (s) or Tangata Whenua as they are the Indigenous Peoples here in Aotearoa. Therefore, your article is incorrect in this instance. 

For those of us that are Indigenous Fijians both in Fiji and in Aotearoa or globally have yet to give our consent in this label change.

The Fiji Constitution 2013 of which your labeling refers to in this tag or label change is being debated todate. In our view 1997 Fiji Constitution reads all Fiji Peoples are Fiji Islanders and ought to remain so until the case has been resolved.

To label us as Taukei in Aotearoa is wrong as Maori (s) are the Taukei here and not Fijians. There is no such Race or Ethnicity called Taukei. This has no identifier as anyone can be a taukei of anything. It is a street label so to speak.

It is our hope that you will tread with caution when describing or writing about Indigenous Fijians in Aotearoa as we view ourselves as Fijians hence the Fijian Language etc.

Kia kaha & Vinaka,

Elisapeci Samanunu Waqanivala

Fijian Language Interpreter

Oral Historian Researcher - Fijian History & Scholarly Research

email: elisapeci1911@gmail.com

A Watch Forum on Activities of Fiji Groups In New Zealand: For Research & Education Purpose.

Ni sa Bula Vinaka & Kia ora


The purpose of this forum is to monitor and collate information on the range of groups being created in New Zealand by Fiji people residing here. It collates information for the purpose of Oral History  of People from Fiji  or with Fiji connections living in New Zealand.

Formation of New Zealand National Council of Fiji Communities.

It is aimed at all segments of Fiji Societies in New Zealand irrespective of Race, Creed, Colour, Educational Background, Status and more.


It will have an Educational Research segment to enable those of Fiji descent to find their connections with Fiji relatives or Rural Fijian Villages for the Indigenous Fijians Communities. Researchers and Friends of Fiji are duly welcome to share their post or experiences of Fiji. Fiji Business ventures will also be included in order to share information with any individual wishing to venture into this field as Entrepreneurs.