Salutation
Ni sa bula vina’a and a very good morning to you all.
Firstly, I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we gather today, ki Nadonumai vua na Turaga na Tui Suva and I pay my respects to their Chiefs, past and present, as well as emerging.
I acknowledge their enduring role for the Vanua, we remain grateful for their custodianship, which allows us to convene here for this important event.
Introduction
2.0 Statecraft points us to the art, skills and practice of governing a country; that include both internal and external affairs. Unpacking these will throw down a list of things people at leadership roles in government need to be equipped with to be able to do justice to their roles. As we’re reminded each day, our people are intolerant of indecisions and inefficiencies.
3.0 Government formulates policies and strategies and compiles reports. Experience is a national asset. When lessons of leadership, of public service, and external relations are not passed on, Fiji denies itself a critical investment to its own future. Further, it loses knowledge that cannot be easily replaced.
3.0 This leadership series provides a valuable space to preserve that knowledge, and develop a distinctly Fijian approach to statecraft, and diplomacy as a tool.
Veimataki, the Mataki and Leadership
4.0 Veimataki speaks to trust, reciprocity, , stewardship and integrity. These are not only cultural values.
5.0 They are strategic values. They guide how we work within Government, engage our communities, and represent Fiji externally.
6.0 Our traditional institutions offer important lessons for modern leadership. The Mataki is more than a messenger or envoy.
7.0 The Mataki represents the sending authority, carried messages between leaders, conveyed interests of the people, received visitors and helped build understanding between parties. The role required listening, discernment, balance and judgement.
8.0 This is closely connected to modern diplomacy and statecraft. Effective representation is not simply about delivering a message.
9.0 It is about building and managing relationships. It demands listening and calibrated communication; the ability to extract fair return at minimum costs with an eye on longer-term relationship, in a manner that protects national interests while preserving respect and integrity.
10.0 Every senior official carries a similar responsibility today. We represent our ministries, our institutions and, ultimately, Fiji. Whether engaging communities, advising Ministers or working with international partners, we must act with the same care, integrity and sense of responsibility.
The Priorities of Statecraft
11.0 Statecraft begins with understanding what matters most to Fiji at a particular time, and having the judgement to act accordingly. It requires leaders to balance domestic needs, regional responsibilities, international relationships and the long-term national interest.
12.0 Leadership is often about making choices. We must decide what requires immediate action, what needs further consultation and what principles must be upheld. Not every issue can receive the same attention at the same time.
13.0 Good statecraft requires clear goals, priorities, evidence and effective decision-making.
14.0 It also requires respect for process. Receiving information is not the same as accepting it. Considering a recommendation is not the same as adopting it. Major decisions require proper consultation, legal and policy advice, and confidence that the chosen course of action is in Fiji’s best interests.
15.0 Fiji is a small island state, but we have agency. We must maintain strong partnerships throughout the Pacific and with the wider international community.
16.0 At the same time, we must retain the independence to determine our own priorities and make decisions consistent with our national interests, values and constitutional responsibilities.
17.0 The questions of statecraft are therefore simple, but important: What must come first? Which relationships must be strengthened? Which institutions must be strengthened? And what decision will best serve Fiji and future generations?
18.0 In military operational appreciations, these questions are usually followed by the question: ‘so what?’ It informs our deductions of risks, strategies, tactics, resourcing and most likely course of action from a list of difficult choices.
19.0 Once the choice is made, the leader summons and coordinates every ounce of asset to ensure the mission is executed successfully.
Statecraft and the National Interest
820.0 Statecraft requires leaders to understand Fiji’s national interest and to make sound choices in a changing environment.
21.0 It requires patience, discipline, consultation and respect for institutions and processes. It also requires us to look beyond immediate pressures and consider the long-term consequences of our decisions.
22.0 As a small island state, Fiji’s influence comes from our relationships, our reputation, our contribution to regional and global peace, and our ability to work constructively with partners.
23.0 We must remain active in the Pacific and on the international front, while retaining the independence to make decisions in accordance with Fiji’s interests, values and constitutional responsibilities.
National Growth Vision and Veimataki
24.0 The Government has set an ambitious national goal of achieving sustained annual economic growth of 6 percent through to 2050.
25.0 This goal is not only about economic figures. It is about improving livelihoods, creating opportunities for our young people, strengthening public services, building resilient infrastructure and securing a better future for every Fijian.
26.0 Achieving this vision will require peace, stability, social cohesion and capable institutions. It will require public trust, sound policy, investment confidence and partnerships that advance national priorities. It certainly requires every level of leadership in the public service to be at the top of its game.
27.0 In this respect, Veimataki is central to our development agenda. Growth is more durable when it is inclusive, and when the benefits of progress are shared fairly.
Veimataki and the Ocean of Peace
28.0 The principles of Veimataki complement Fiji’s Ocean of Peace vision. The Ocean of Peace calls for a Pacific founded on dialogue, mutual respect, sovereignty, cooperation and peaceful resolution of differences.
29.0 Veimataki provides the cultural and ethical platform for this approach. It reminds us that strong relationship is needed today more than ever. They are a source of national and regional strength.
30.0 For Fiji, the Ocean of Peace is both a foreign-policy vision and a practical guide for action. It calls on us to work with all partners, support regional solidarity, protect the interests of Pacific peoples and preserve our strategic independence.
31.0 It requires leadership through service, influence without domination, and partnership without dependency.
Every Ministry Is Part of Statecraft
32.0 Foreign policy is not the responsibility of one ministry alone. Climate action, trade, fisheries, tourism, health, infrastructure, cybersecurity, migration, education, policing and defence all shape Fiji’s standing in the world.
33.0 Every senior public servant is therefore part of Fiji’s statecraft. When you work with an international partner, advise a Minister, negotiate an agreement or deliver a programme, you represent Fiji. Your conduct, judgement and professionalism contribute to our national reputation.
34.0 The modern public servant has an important responsibility. You translate political direction into effective administration. You turn policy into practical programmes. You bring community concerns into Government decision-making. You provide honest, impartial and evidence-based advice.
35.0 Good public service requires courage as well as loyalty. It requires officers to explain what is known, what remains uncertain, what the risks are and what course of action best serves the national interest.
36.0 This strengthens trust between political leaders, public servants and the people we serve.
Judgement, Institutions and Legacy
37.0 Leadership requires judgement and timing. Not every decision should be made immediately. Some decisions require urgent action. Others require consultation, evidence and careful preparation.
38.0 Leaders must be ready to act under uncertainty, while remaining open to new information and changing circumstances.
39.0 Our history has taught us that decisions made in times of pressure can shape a nation for generations. We must therefore protect our institutions, respect the rule of law and preserve relationships between the arms of government, and its institutions, and between the government and our communities. Fiji’s future depends not only on what we decide, but also on how we decide.
40.0 The Veimataki Leadership Series should help us build a stronger culture of stewardship. We are temporary custodians of permanent institutions.
41.0 Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, ambassadors and directors will change. The nation and its institutions must endure.
Call to Action
42.0 This series will help ensure that the lessons of one generation become a resource for the next. Through leadership papers, case studies, learning materials and dialogue, we can strengthen the capability of future leaders and support the work of the Diplomatic Academy.
43.0 I encourage all participants to use this series as a space for honest reflection and respectful discussion. Build relationships before they are needed.
44.0 Listen carefully. Think beyond the immediate issue. Consider the consequences of each decision for our institutions, our communities and future generations.
45.0 Let us lead with wisdom, courage, humility and a clear sense of service.
Conclusion
46.0 Power is temporary. Positions are temporary. Institutions endure. The nation endures. Our responsibility is to leave Fiji stronger, more united and better prepared for the future.
47.0 Through Veimataki, through the Ocean of Peace, and through our shared commitment to sustainable national growth, we can build a more secure, prosperous and peaceful Fiji.
48.0 It is now my honour to formally declare the inaugural Veimataki Leadership Series open.
Vinaka vakalevu.