Mataqali Nailagobokola regains Nausori land after 150 years

A 17.67-acre freehold land formerly occupied by the Nausori Golf Course was officially handed back to mataqali Nailagobokola of yavusa Vunivivi, Nausori Village yesterday after more than 150 years.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka officiated the ceremony at Nausori Village Hall, joined by Minister for Lands Filimoni Vosarogo, Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu and Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga.

Mr Vosarogo said the vacant freehold land, sitting in the heart of Nausori Town, held enormous potential.

“You get the title, you go to the bank, you negotiate whatever projects that you want,” Mr Vosarogo said, adding that funding avenues including the Fiji Development Bank and iTaukei Trust Fund were available to the mataqali.

Taukei Vunivivi Jese Qalirea said the land would never be sold.

“This land will never be sold ever again - those that want to do businesses can sublease it,” Mr Qalirea said.

“This is to preserve it for future generations.”

Mr Vosarogo said legal hurdles linked to law changes dating back to 1999 had been cleared by the Solicitor-General’s office before yesterday’s handover.