National Archives Exhibition opens in Suva
Three-day exhibition in Suva opens Fiji Day celebrations, showcasing historical records and genealogy services for descendants of early settlers.
Monday 06 October 2025 | 22:30
From left: National Archives of Fiji archive assistant Sebastiano Kaloudau, senior archivist Losena Tudreu and Sekaia Nauasarawa at the Government Resource Centre in Suva on October 7, 2025.
Photo: Talei Roko
The National Archives of Fiji in displaying the nation’s rich history is part of this year’s Fiji Day celebrations, with the opening of the special three-day exhibition at the Government Service Centre, Suva today.
The exhibition was officially launched by the Minister for Information, Lynda Tabuya.
It showcases rare historical records and documents that trace Fiji’s journey from its cession to Great Britain on October 10, 1874, to its independence on October 10, 1970.
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Senior Archivist Losena Tudreu said the event was the Minister’s initiative to make government services more accessible and to raise awareness about the National Archives’ work.
“This is her idea, she wanted to bring our services out to the public, so people are aware of what we do, especially the preservation of historical records,” Ms Tudreu said.
“October 10 is a special day, it marks both cession and independence,” she said.
The Archives team is also offering genealogy search services for those tracing their ancestry, including descendants of Indian indentured labourers and European settlers.
“We already have a database of more than 60,000 names of those who came from India between 1879 and 1916 on 87 ships,” Ms Tudreu said.
“People can come with a name, birth, or death certificate and we’ll help them find their family records.”
The exhibition highlights the evolution of Fiji’s governance, from the time of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna and to the present day.
Ms Tudreu said it has been some time since the Archives last held a public display, and the team was excited to reconnect with the community.
“This is a great opportunity to share our history and services with the public. We’ll be here from 9am to 4pm the next three days,” she said.
The exhibition rounds up on Thursday. It is part of the build-up to Fiji Day celebrations on Friday (public holiday) with the military parade at Suva's Albert Park.
