As Fiji commemorates Ratu Sukuna Day, reflections continue on how the great statesman’s vision for land governance, leadership, and national development remains deeply relevant across the Pacific.
This national public holiday provides an important opportunity to reflect on how Ratu Sir Josefa Lalabalavu Vanayaliyali Sukuna’s foundational principles continue to shape academic research, policy development, and land governance across the region today.
Born in 1888 in the chiefly village of Bau, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna was shaped from an early age by a strong sense of leadership and service to his people. A member of the esteemed Tui Kaba clan, one of Fiji’s most influential chiefly lineages, he carried with him the values, responsibilities, and traditions of the vanua throughout his life.
His educational journey began at Wairuku Primary School in Rakiraki on Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, before continuing at Wanganui Collegiate School in New Zealand. He later pursued higher studies at Wadham College, Oxford, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree and was regarded as the first iTaukei to receive a university degree.
Ratu Sukuna’s time at Oxford proved transformative, exposing him to international political thought, governance systems, and leadership ideals that would later shape his vision for Fiji’s development and administration.
Upon returning to Fiji, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna embarked on a distinguished political and administrative career that would leave a lasting impact on the nation’s development. Widely regarded as one of Fiji’s finest statesmen, his vision for the nation was grounded in unity, stability, and progress, guided by a deep respect for traditional Fijian customs while recognising the importance of modern governance and reform.
Among his most enduring achievements was the establishment of the Native Land Trust Board in 1940, now known as the iTaukei Land Trust Board. The institution was created to safeguard and administer iTaukei land on behalf of its customary owners, balancing communal ownership with national development needs. This framework remains central to Fiji’s land governance system today.
The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Head of Discipline for Land Management and Development, Dr Joeli Varo, is an individual whose personal and professional journey has been influenced by the statesman’s life.
Having participated in the Global Youth Leadership Fellowship at the Baronese College, University of Oxford last year, Dr Varo shared his experience of walking the very same halls the great leader attended back in 1912.
“This is a timely commemoration as we honour the legacy and illustrious educational journey of this great statesman. Growing up in the village, I was deeply inspired by Ratu Sukuna. We admired the faithful manner in which he carried out his duties,” Dr Varo shared.
“For any iTaukei, emulating his life is a noble mission. From a young age, our teachers instilled in us his values, moral etiquette, and vision for Fiji, which ultimately inspired my own journey to understand the nation he envisioned.”
Dr Varo also shared how Ratu Sukuna’s dual upbringing equipped him with a unique capability to navigate and merge traditional structures with contemporary systems.
“Ratu Sukuna was a prodigy whose brilliant mind was recognised early on. He was uniquely nurtured: grounded in the traditional knowledge of the vanua (land), intellectually sharpened at Oxford, and deeply rooted in his faith,” Dr Varo added.
“He was a master of two worlds, living a sophisticated Western life abroad, yet returning to a simple, humble life in the village, seamlessly adapting to both. He understood that spiritual and moral values anchor both governance and tradition. This upbringing instilled in him the sacred ties of the vanua, which encompass veilomani (love) and veiwekani (relationship).”
Central to the governance philosophy associated with Ratu Sukuna is his philosophy of the “three-legged stool” – which Dr Varo highlighted was the framework that balances the traditional values of the indigenous community, spiritual foundations, and the state apparatus.
“From this profound worldview, he championed the concept of the ‘three-legged stool’, the three pillars of vanua (land and culture), lotu (church), and matanitu (government). He recognised that these pillars were essential to the stewardship of land and national development.”
Dr Varo noted that the evolution of USP’s Land Management programmes aligns with Ratu Sukuna’s belief that future generations would expand upon his structural blueprints.
“Ratu Sukuna once noted that future generations would write the detailed intricacies of this framework. Today, we see that realisation as researchers dive into the delicate balance between these three pillars of our social fabric and governance,” he said.
“He gave us a clear vision, and as the scripture reminds us, ‘where there is no vision, the people perish. Echoing the profound sentiment to ‘ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,’ Ratu Sukuna’s legacy drives our focus, motive, and passion today.”
“We are now building upon his vision, ensuring that Pacific Islanders achieve advanced scholarship in land management, creating a holistic, sustainable future for our region.”
