The Fiji community in New Zealand has been buzzing this week with the arrival of Fijian prime minister on a five-day state visit.
Sitiveni Rabuka, accompanied by wife Sulueti, arrived in the country earlier this week, meeting the people and also New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and other key government officials.
On Sunday, June 5, he met with the Fijian community in New Zealand at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Auckland, where he was given a traditional welcome and also honoured by the Fiji Girmit Foundation New Zealand.
Krish Naidu, the foundation’s national president and community leader, presented Rabuka with a plaque to thank him for honouring his promise to declare a public holiday in Fiji to honour the Girmitiya community.
"Prime Minister, we still remember the last two conversations we had last year in Auckland where we discussed the Girmit holiday," Naidu said in his speech.
"I would like to say here's a man of honour and dignity for honouring his promises and declaring a Girmit holiday in Fiji in 2023.
"And thank you for visiting New Zealand, it's an important occasion this week as we look forward to the prime minister furthering the much-needed aroha, loloma and love between Fiji and New Zealand, which had been lost for the past 16 years."
On Tuesday, June 6, Rabuka met with members of the Fijian community in Wellington, where he was again accorded a traditional welcome.
Acknowledging the Fijian community's contribution to both countries, Rabuka had a warm message for the community.
"I also commend you for supporting us by sending your remittances, investing your skills, time, resources and effort back into Fiji. For that I extend the gratitude of the Fijian government to you," he said.
"If there is something that I can pass on to you tonight, it is to make the best use of your opportunities in New Zealand.
"Raise your children to be law-abiding and useful citizens; teach them to love others and be wise in their management of time.
"Fiji will always be there for them and the door will always be open for them to return, whether on holiday or for work or for retirement," Rabuka said.
The Fijian prime minister said his visit to Aotearoa affirmed the importance of New Zealand as a friend and development partner to Fiji in strategic areas of trade, defence and policing, climate change and sports.
On June 7, he also met with New Zealand's Chris Hipkins, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta and other key government officials.
The state visit ended on Friday, June 9.