The Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma has officially opened its Bose Ko Viti 2026, bringing together ministers and representatives from across the country. The nine-day conference is being held in Suva from August 20 to 28, with discussions focusing on issues affecting the Church, its ministers and congregations. President of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, Reverend Dr. Semisi Turagavou, highlighted that the conference is an opportunity for the Church to reflect on its progress and work towards strengthening its future. “I am hoping that the Spirit of the Lord will liberate us individually and communally as members…
Author: admin_fijitimes
The President of the Methodist Church in Fiji, Reverend Dr. Semisi Turagavou is calling on its ministers to take greater responsibility for their discipline and future, as concerns remain over pastoral duties, financial pressures and preparations for retirement. For the Methodist Church in Fiji, strengthening discipline, financial planning and the wellbeing of ministers is now a major focus. Reverend Dr. Turagavou, highlighted that the standard of the Church must begin with its ministers. “It must begin from us, the ministers, before we preach from the pulpit and do some program trying our church members to elevate the standard of the…
Postpartum depression is being highlighted as an issue that needs greater awareness and support for mothers. ASK4HELP Founder and Executive Director Asinate Savu Korocawiri said that one in seven women worldwide are affected, but the condition is still not well understood. Korocawiri added that postpartum depression can affect more than just the mother, impacting her children, family and wider community. “The need to conduct a dialogue has come about because postpartum depression affects one in seven women around the world” Korocawiri highlighted. “It is not something that is well known or being focused on, so this is a focus area…
The Kula Arts and Film Awards 2026 has also returned after a seven-year break, giving young Fijian filmmakers and artists a platform to showcase their creativity and storytelling. Held at the Japan ICT Centre at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala Campus, the awards brought together students and teachers from 35 schools, with more than 1,000 students taking part in the film, arts and dance competitions. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Industries, Commerce, Business Development and Public Enterprises, Manoa Kamikamica, highlighted that the Kula Awards is an investment in Fiji’s next generation of creative talent. “This is, quite…
The Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) says the confusion surrounding the new Tourism Services Tax (TST) could have been prevented if Government had acted on concerns raised by the tourism industry months before the tax was introduced. The association says it first raised objections when the five percent levy was announced, arguing that there had been no meaningful industry consultation. It also proposed alternative ways of supporting Fiji Airways that would not place additional pressure on the wider tourism supply chain. FHTA chief executive officer Fantasha Lockington says the association repeatedly asked Government to exclude holidays that had already…
Grassroots recycling organisations across the Pacific are calling for a stronger voice in decisions shaping the region’s recycling and circular economy sectors. The Pacific Recyclers Alliance (PRA), which represents recycling organisations from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Nauru, says its members are concerned about being treated mainly as stakeholders despite policies, investments and economic decisions directly affecting their work and livelihoods. The Alliance says many of its members have been operating for decades, in some cases for more than 30 years, with little or no formal support. Their work has included collecting, sorting, processing and…
Fiji has made history in diving, with Māori Pomeroy-Farrell winning the country’s first-ever medal at a World Aquatics World Championships. Pomeroy-Farrell claimed bronze in the Boys’ 3-metre Springboard at the World Aquatics Junior Diving Championships in Rijeka, Croatia, scoring 490.50 points in the final. The result marks a major milestone not only for Pomeroy-Farrell, but for Fiji, which has traditionally been better known internationally for sports such as rugby. The achievement comes three years after Pomeroy-Farrell made another piece of Fijian diving history. In 2023, he became the first diver to represent Fiji at a World Aquatics Championships, competing at…
The All Blacks produced a clinical second-half performance to defeat the Springboks 33-16 in the opening Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, crossing for five tries to one in a statement victory. South Africa struck first with an early penalty before New Zealand responded through winger Will Jordan, who finished off a lineout drive to score the opening try of the match. The Springboks hit back through Andre Esterhuizen to regain the lead, but the visitors continued to fight back, with Josh Moorby crossing after a powerful break from Tupou Vaa’i. South Africa edged into halftime with a slender 13-12…
Tavua College were crowned Open Girls champions at the Extra Fiji Secondary Schools Football Championship 2026 after staging a spirited 2-1 comeback victory over Dreketi Central College in the final in Labasa. Dreketi Central made a strong start to the decider and took a 1-0 lead into halftime, putting Tavua under pressure. The western side responded superbly after the break, showing resilience and composure to overturn the deficit and score twice in the second half to claim the national title. Tavua booked their place in the final with a convincing 3-0 victory over Lekutu Secondary School in the semi-finals, while…
Tavua College capped off a dominant tournament campaign by winning the Under-19 division of the Extra Fiji Secondary Schools Football Championship 2026 in Labasa yesterday. The western side defeated hosts Labasa College 2-0 in the final, thanks to a first-half brace from captain Waisea Duwai. His double gave Tavua a comfortable halftime lead, and a disciplined defensive effort after the break ensured the score remained unchanged. Tavua entered the final full of confidence after a convincing 3-0 victory over Guru Nanak Khalsa College in the semi-finals. Labasa College faced a much tougher path to the title decider, edging Ba Sangam…