136 repatriated ‘Tabua’ from New Zealand have been handed to the iTaukei Affairs Ministry by the Environment Ministry.

Permanent Secretary for Environment Joshua Wycliffe highlights that a total of 146 ‘Tabua’ were received from New Zealand, 10 of which will be kept with the Environment Ministry for research purposes.

Acting Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs, Meleti Bainimarama says they are working in collaboration with the Fisheries Ministry on the authenticity and price of the Tabua.

“We have come through three years. We really need to perfect the process and when we start the sale or purchasing we need to have all these processes in place. Put in mechanism to isolate the fake from the real ones and also probably working with the development unit here. They are going to work out the pricing on the size of the Tabua.”

The collaboration between the two ministries in bringing back the traditional artifacts has been commended by Wycliffe.

“We corporate closely and partner with the Ministry of iTaukei affairs in which any threat, or any exchange of Tabua will require primarily the approval of the permanent secretary of iTaukei affairs.”

Wycliffe says the ‘Tabua’ bears deep cultural and historical meaning for Fiji and her people.