Over 40 housing leases stall, landowners want land back

Landowners are growing frustrated and refusing to renew development leases after more than 40 government housing projects on iTaukei land have stalled for years.

Parliament's Standing Committee on Social Affairs, reviewing the iTaukei Land Trust Board's 2023 Annual Report, found that of more than 40 development leases issued to the Ministry of Housing, only two — at Ledrusasa in Nadi and Waidamudamu — have been completed.

Development leases are agreements where land is leased to the government for housing subdivisions.

Landowners are supposed to benefit from the development, but prolonged delays have left many waiting for years with nothing to show.

TLTB Chief Executive Solomone Nata told the committee the delays were the core of the problem.

"The landowners have been asking, when will the development take place?" Mr Nata said.

"Some of the problems — the landowners want their land back."

He said some leases had reached a third five-year renewal cycle without development starting.

When leases expired without renewal, some land reverted to reserve status, making fresh consent harder to obtain.

The committee has recommended a joint TLTB-Housing monitoring committee be established to enforce delivery timelines and ensure accountability.

The findings are contained in Parliamentary Paper No. 19 of 2026, tabled last week.