Opening of new district hall in Taveuni set to be major event
On May 27, Taveuni, Fiji’s third largest island, will commemorate the grand opening of its much-anticipated Vuna District Hall.
It was rebuilt at a cost of $160,000 to replace Vuna Village’s original hall which was destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016. More than a thousand people are anticipated to participate in this important celebration on the day. The programme is expected to kick off when the New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji, Charlotte Darlow, arrives at midday, escorted by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the Fiji Police Force.
The New Zealand Ministry of Finance and Tourism (MFAT) provided all funding for the construction of the new District Hall.
As drinking water availability at the south end of Taveuni is scarce, the construction of three large water tanks, courtesy of the chief executive officer, Neil Maharaj of the Rotary Pacific ‘Water for Life’ Foundation, was an important component of the Vuna hall rebuild.
The building was fabricated offsite and assembled on the original hall site by local volunteers under the supervision of builder Peter Brown.
Opening the event’s formalities would be done by Abdul Hakim, District Officer of Taveuni, who would introduce the President of the Rotary Club of Taveuni, Paul Purvis. Other dignitaries expected to be in attendance would include The Tui Vuna, Ratu Aporosa Rageci, the District High Commissioner Northern Uraia Rainima, and the District Governor of Rotary District 9920 New Zealand, Steve Chaney.