He has been a media personality for the past 33 years and wants to continue to highlight the role of the media as a development partner in nation building.

Mataiasi Akauola is one of the 50 nominated candidates contesting under the FijiFirst banner.

The 52-year old hails from Salia, in Nayau, Lau but grew up in Suva.

He was first recruited by Peter Lomas of the Fiji Sun straight out of Queen Victoria School. He worked for the paper from 1981 to 1985, then he went ahead and joined FM96, FBC as well as the Fiji Times.

Mr Akauola was also a former member of the Fiji Media Council and became the first manager of the merged Pacific Island News Association (PINA) and Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association (PIBA).

His father was a member of both the Fijian Nationalist and the National Federation parties; so politics runs in the family.

“I have seen the various governments that have led the country- such as the Alliance, Fiji Labour Party, SVT, and SDL in the past,” Mr Akauola said.

“I have even interviewed those leaders one time or the other.

“I was approached by one party however I applied for FijiFirst, because I believe in what the party stands for.”

There are things he will want concentrate on in this year’s election; obviously the media is one of them.

“The media and its work in the country and why it is a national development partner in nation building, and sports,” Mr Akauola said.

“I understand the plight of the sports organisations and sports people and to strengthen family values.”

With only a few weeks left before the elections, Mr Akauola feels that the campaign machinery had been doing well.

“But the main thing is to get people to the polling stations to cast their votes,” he said.

“Choose FijiFirst, it has and will continue to deliver for a better Fiji.”

Feedback: farisha.ahmed@fijisun.com.fj