CoveragePost
April 29, 2026
By Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor A woman whose great-grandparents — all eight of them — were Girmitiya labourers has put their stories into her debut novel. The result is Banjara, a novel partly based on what she found, which is told through the eyes of two women more than 100 years apart. Author, ... <a title="Girmitiya ancestry the inspiration behind Fiji writer’s debut novel" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/29/girmitiya-ancestry-the-inspiration-behind-fiji-writers-debut-novel/" aria-label="Read more about Girmitiya ancestry the inspiration behind Fiji writer’s debut novel">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 14, 2025
By Susana Suisuiki, RNZ Pacific Waves presenter/producer, and Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor The co-founder of Auckland’s Fiji Centre is concerned that Indo-Fijians are not classified as Pacific Islanders in Aotearoa. This week marks the 146th anniversary of the arrival of the first indentured labourers from British India to Fiji, who departed from Calcutta. ... <a title="Fiji Indians in NZ ‘not giving up’ on Pasifika classification struggle" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/14/fiji-indians-in-nz-not-giving-up-on-pasifika-classification-struggle/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji Indians in NZ ‘not giving up’ on Pasifika classification struggle">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 11, 2023
By Blessen Tom, RNZ journalist A new production called Coolie: The Story of the Girmityas is shedding light on the lesser-known history of the Indian indentured labourers. Poet and music producer Nadia Freeman’s latest work gives life to the hidden voice of her Indo-Fijian ancestors through electronic music and theatre. “I just felt like I ... <a title="New NZ theatre production highlights Fiji Girmityas’ struggles" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/11/new-nz-theatre-production-highlights-fiji-girmityas-struggles/" aria-label="Read more about New NZ theatre production highlights Fiji Girmityas’ struggles">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 26, 2023
By Rachael Nath, RNZ Pacific journalist In a significant step toward preserving and commemorating Fiji’s rich history, efforts are underway to establish the country’s first living museum. This unique institution will focus on capturing the era of the British colonial government’s indentured system in Fiji, shedding light on the arrival of Fijians of Indian descent ... <a title="‘Living museum’ will help bring Fiji’s Girmit experience by storytelling" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/26/living-museum-will-help-bring-fijis-girmit-experience-by-storytelling/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Living museum’ will help bring Fiji’s Girmit experience by storytelling">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 16, 2023
EDITORIAL: By The Fiji Times editor-in-chief Fred Wesley Sunday — May 14 — was an important date for Fiji. It is recorded in history as a day set aside to commemorate the Girmitiya. Sometimes we need a reminder to appreciate the importance of history, and what it means to us as a nation. THE FIJI ... <a title="Girmit Day – Shaping Fiji through hard work, blood, sweat and tears" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/16/girmit-day-shaping-fiji-through-hard-work-blood-sweat-and-tears/" aria-label="Read more about Girmit Day – Shaping Fiji through hard work, blood, sweat and tears">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 15, 2023
By Arieta Vakasukawaqa in Suva History unfolded live at the Vodafone Arena at Laucala Bay in Suva yesterday when the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma and descendants of the Girmitya exchanged apologies and forgiveness in a solemn church service marking the fourth day of the inaugural Girmit Day celebrations. An emotional Prime Minister Sitiveni ... <a title="Historic Girmit Day apology accepted as Fiji enters new era of unity and reconciliation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/15/historic-girmit-day-apology-accepted-as-fiji-enters-new-era-of-unity-and-reconciliation/" aria-label="Read more about Historic Girmit Day apology accepted as Fiji enters new era of unity and reconciliation">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 8, 2023
By Rachael Nath, RNZ Pacific journalist The Methodist Church of Fiji is seeking forgiveness from the descendants of Indian indentured labourers, or Girmitiyas, for the transgressions of the last 36 years. The racially motivated violent coups of 1987 and 2000 and the military coup d’état of December 2006 have left a permanent scar on race ... <a title="‘Time is right for reconciliation’ – Fiji’s Methodist Church seeks to mend race relations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/08/time-is-right-for-reconciliation-fijis-methodist-church-seeks-to-mend-race-relations/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Time is right for reconciliation’ – Fiji’s Methodist Church seeks to mend race relations">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 30, 2022
OBITUARY: By Helen Nalina Reddy, Jai Ram Reddy’s daughter “My FijiI offer a vision which sees this beloved land of ours united in its diversity, forged out of its adversity, and built on trust. I offer you a vision of Fiji which historians will say that, in the midst of tragedy, we found courage and ... <a title="Helen Reddy: A tribute to my father, Fiji’s visionary Jai Ram Reddy" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/08/30/helen-reddy-a-tribute-to-my-father-fijis-visionary-jai-ram-reddy/" aria-label="Read more about Helen Reddy: A tribute to my father, Fiji’s visionary Jai Ram Reddy">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 9, 2022
By Arieta Vakasukawaqa in Suva Opposition National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad has questioned the motive of the FijiFirst government to continuously highlight the 1987 coup during the girmit celebrations while refusing to mention the devastation brought about by the 2000 and 2006 coups on Fijians. He highlighted this issue during a rally in ... <a title="Prasad accuses FijiFirst of ‘political gimmick’ in highlighting 1987 coup" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/05/09/prasad-accuses-fijifirst-of-political-gimmick-in-highlighting-1987-coup/" aria-label="Read more about Prasad accuses FijiFirst of ‘political gimmick’ in highlighting 1987 coup">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 21, 2020
By Sri Krishnamurthi “No matter how we come to be in Fiji, or how long we have been here …we all part of the land. It is the land of our birth or land of our adoption, the land to which we belong” – The late archbishop Petero Mataca. When a New Zealand youth, an ... <a title="A loss of ‘Fijian’ identity – or no identity at all – in Aotearoa" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/10/21/a-loss-of-fijian-identity-or-no-identity-at-all-in-aotearoa/" aria-label="Read more about A loss of ‘Fijian’ identity – or no identity at all – in Aotearoa">Read more</a>
