Landowners warn over dumping at Vuna blowhole in Taveuni

A Taveuni Island resident is calling for urgent action and public responsibility after a popular tourism site was found desecrated by piles of household waste.

Abhishek Sapra, a resident of Taveuni, was shocked after discovering rubbish wedged between rocks at the Vuna blowhole during a family outing last week.

"I was born on this island and never in my 42 years have I seen so much rubbish dumped here," Mr Sapra said.

"Many local and overseas tourists visit this site... this is not the impression we want to give of how we treat our environment."

“I hope people learn to respect our natural heritage.”

Mr Sapra said the waste appeared to be a single, deliberate dump rather than debris washed ashore. Because the site sits high above sea level, tidal activity was ruled out as a cause.

He urged people to refrain from dumping rubbish, saying it posed a serious threat to the marine environment and was disrespectful to the traditional owners of the area.

Community members clean up a large amount of household rubbish at Vuna Blowhole in Taveuni on December 23, 2025

Photo: Supplied

The clean-up effort

In response to the discovery, a community-led clean-up campaign took place today.

Nearly 20 volunteers including men, women, and children from Navakawau Village and a farmer from Ura worked to clear the coastline.

The items recovered included, disposable nappies and plastic containers, Aluminium cans and plastic barrels, pieces of roofing iron and significant volume of smashed beer bottles

Mr Sapra highlighted the broken glass as a major safety concern.

"People drink there and then smash the bottles onto the rocks. This area is used by children, adults, and tourists; it poses a serious health hazard that could cause severe injuries."

Warning from landowners

While volunteers searched the refuse for receipts or identifiable documents to track the culprits, no leads were found. It remains unclear if the waste originated from nearby residents or visitors from outside the area.

This marks the second major clean-up at the site involving the island’s health inspector.

Nicholas Morgan Baleikoro, a member of the mataqali (landowning unit), said he was disappointed over the recurring issue.

"Access to such natural sites is a privilege, not a right," Mr Baleikoro warned.

"When people treat the land as a dumping ground, it affects the environment and the goodwill of landowners. If you can bring it in, you can take it out."

Mr Baleikoro suggested that if the disrespect continues, the mataqali may be forced to consider restricting access or implementing entry fees to ensure the protection of the natural heritage.