While Fiji may have lost in the Dubai 7s last weekend, a bunch of countrymen were flying the national flag high in Christchurch, New Zealand.

A group of Fijians, led by Vinesh Prakash and Ropate Siwatibau, got together and organised a float as part of the 67th annual Santa Parade in Christchurch.

The float, a tapa decorated vehicle enacting a Fijian kava ceremony, was led by a group of Fijian warriors followed by another vehicle full of traditionally dressed children flying the flag high.

Each year the parade gets bigger and brighter as both children and adults (over 120,000 people) line up the streets to watch the spectacular floats, their favourite cartoon characters, animals, clowns, marching bands, dancing fairies, celebrities and so much more.

This was the first time the Fijian community in Christchurch has done something like this and they hope to continue this every year making the parade bigger and better.

It was a proud moment for us all, proud to be Fijians and proud to be promoting our country.

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