NA LACA
The Official Newsletter of Pasifika Communities University
1st Edition • Second Semester 2026 • A Quarterly Publication
WELCOME
Introducing Na Laca: First Edition
Welcome to Na Laca, the newly launched newsletter of Pasifika Communities University. Na Laca means “The Sails” in Fijian which honors the rich seafaring heritage of the Pacific, where ocean-faring canoes (camakau and drua) relied on sturdy, woven sails to navigate vast uncharted waters with purpose and unity.
Just as laca captured the winds to propel our ancestors forward, this quarterly newsletter serves as the driving force for our school community. It gathers the vibrant stories, achievements, and aspirations of our students and staff, charting our journey through each term. Rooted in the traditional wisdom, resilience, and interconnectedness of our Pacific home, Na Laca captures our collective momentum as we navigate the future together.
Na Laca carries the voice of our university, sounding out across our campuses, centres, institutes, and communities to bring us closer together twice a year.
Na Laca exists to inform, to celebrate, and to connect, sharing the work of our centres and institutes, the milestones of our staff and students, and the partnerships that strengthen our place in the region. It reflects PCU’s whole-of-life approach, recognising that our journeys, culture, health, and connections are all interwoven.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed stories, photographs, and updates to bring this edition to life. This newsletter is a reflection of your work and our shared commitment to strengthening our communities.
As we set sail on this edition, we invite you to journey with us, because together, we move further.
FEATURE
Vice Chancellors Forum
The official recognition of Pasifika Communities University (PCU) by the Government of Fiji, through its inclusion in national higher education forums, marks an important milestone in the university’s growing contribution to education and national development. While PCU sits alongside established national and regional universities, its distinctive contribution lies in its age-old foundations, drawing on both ancestral Pacific wisdom and biblical traditions, and its commitment to a ‘whole of life’ educational vision. PCU brings to these conversations a uniquely Pasifika perspective, affirming that Pacific ethical values, spirituality, and Indigenous knowledge are not remnants of the past or failed attempts at modernity, but enduring strengths that offer meaningful responses to today’s challenges. In doing so, PCU enriches the higher education landscape by demonstrating that authentic development is strongest when it is rooted in the wisdom, identity, and lived realities of Pacific peoples. The first-ever Vice Chancellors Forum was held under the theme, “Collaborative Leadership for a Resilient and Nationally Responsive Higher Education System in Fiji.” Minister for Education Hon. Aseri Radrodro opened the forum, emphasizing the importance of strong legislative frameworks, transparency, and alignment with national priorities in higher education.
He highlighted progress from recent university reviews and stressed the need for all university programs to align with the National Qualification Framework to strengthen quality, consistency, and graduate employability.
During the session on higher education in Fiji, PCU’s Manu Folau, Rev. Dr. Upolu Luma Vaai, shared PCU’s collaborative efforts to help develop a practical regional education framework for the Pacific, while also reflecting on the university’s history. This was held on the 8th of May, 2026.
The forum concluded with a Joint Communiqué reaffirming commitments to collaboration, innovation, and national development.
AROUND PCU
Introducing the Centres and Institutes
Regional Institute for Leadership Development (RILED)
MARCH
The Regional Institute for Leadership Development (RILED) takes a distinctive approach to leadership by embracing a ‘whole of life’ education vision. Rather than focusing only on qualifications or technical skills, RILED nurtures leaders of character, integrity, and service who are grounded in their culture, faith, and communities. It sees leadership as a lifelong journey lived through everyday relationships and responsibilities, with development measured not only by economic progress but by the wellbeing of people, communities, and the environment. In doing so, RILED prepares leaders who are committed to serving others and creating lasting, positive change across Pasifika.The Regional Institute of Leadership Development Office, under Pasifika Communities University, strengthens leadership across Pacific communities through training, mentorship, and culturally grounded programs. Its focus is on building practical skills, supporting community-led development, and fostering collaboration so communities can lead their own sustainable futures.
Over the past two months, the team visited 15 villages across Fiji, holding community consultations that created space to listen, learn, and connect. These conversations provided valuable insight into local challenges, aspirations, and opportunities, reinforcing the importance of working alongside communities to shape inclusive pathways forward.
Consultations were held in:
• Namosi: Nakavika
• Naitasiri: Naqelewai, Lomai, Vanuakula, Nairukuruku
• Tailevu: Matacaucau, Qoma
• Ra: Nasau, Nauria
• Vanua Levu: Wainika,
• Vatulele Island
These engagements are ongoing. Continued visits help build trust, strengthen relationships, and ensure plans, such as This the Diploma in Pasifika Leadership and Resilience, and the Diploma in Pastoral Counselling. These programs are were delivered in Semester 1. equipping participants with leadership, counselling, and community wellbeing skills.
This semester, RILED has 96 students (24 in Pastoral Counselling), all working toward graduation in November 2026.
Centre for Gender and Social Justice (CGSJ)
NOVEMBER / MARCH
The establishment of the Methodist Women’s Fellowship Helpline marks a significant step forward in strengthening support systems for women across Fiji. With the support of the Centre for Gender and Social Justice (CGSJ) at Pasifika Communities University, the helpline was developed as a safe, confidential, and accessible space for women seeking guidance, counselling, and referral services.
CGSJ contributed through research, technical guidance, and partnership coordination, helping to shape the helpline’s design in a way that reflects the lived realities of women in our communities. As a result, the helpline now stands as a vital platform for amplifying women’s voices, responding to gender-based challenges, and connecting women to the support they need with dignity and care.
CGSJ also helped in publishing a collection of writings by PCU’s Communications Manager, Mavis Gaunavou, titled Na Talimagimagi, a collection of stories reflecting her journey from childhood to motherhood and marriage, weaving together personal testimonies and lived experiences into one inspiring volume. The launch of the book, supported financially by CGSJ, coincided with International Women’s Day and World Prayer Day and attracted an impressive gathering of women from diverse organisations and communities.
Building on the success of Na Talimagimagi, there is significant potential for CGSJ to support the publication of more stories by women from across the Pasifika region. Such a collection would create a valuable platform for Pacific women to share their lived experiences, cultural knowledge, faith, and perspectives in their own voices. These stories would offer alternative and authentic understandings of women’s roles, responsibilities, leadership, and resilience within Pacific societies, while highlighting the diversity of experiences across the region. By preserving and amplifying these narratives, CGSJ would not only contribute to Pacific scholarship but also strengthen intergenerational dialogue, inspire future leaders, and ensure that women’s voices remain central to shaping the social, cultural, and theological conversations of Pasifika.
Institute of Climate Indigenous Knowledge (ICIK)
The Institute for Climate Indigenous Knowledge (ICIK) embraces a ‘whole of life’ education vision by recognising that climate resilience is not built through science and technology alone, but through the wisdom, values, and lived experiences of Pacific communities. Unlike conventional approaches that often treat climate change as purely an environmental or technical challenge, ICIK places Indigenous knowledge, cultural heritage, spirituality, and community relationships at the heart of climate action. It values the knowledge passed down through generations and brings it into conversation with contemporary research to equip communities with locally grounded, sustainable solutions. In doing so, ICIK fosters a holistic understanding of climate resilience one that cares not only for the environment, but also for people, culture, identity, and future generations across Pasifika.ICIK took on a project that examines the role of women’s indigenous knowledge in climate resilience in Samoa and Kiribati. It highlights how women contribute to adaptation, food security, health, and environmental management, despite being undervalued in decision-making due to social and structural barriers.
Using interviews, workshops, and community research, the study documents how climate change is impacting ecosystems, livelihoods, and cultural practices, while also capturing local adaptation strategies rooted in traditional knowledge.
Key findings show that women are central to effective climate action, and that integrating their knowledge into policy and practice leads to more sustainable, community-based solutions. The project also emphasizes the need for greater inclusion of women in leadership and policymaking.
The research is complete in Samoa and ongoing in Kiribati, with a final report expected in 2026.
Jovili Meo Mission Centre (JMMC)
The Jovili Meo Mission Centre (JMMC) stands as a key facility of Pasifika Communities University, offering quality accommodation and fully air-conditioned conference rooms ideal for meetings, trainings, and events. Its convenient setting and well-equipped spaces make it a preferred venue for both local and regional gatherings.
JMMC has proudly hosted the Fiji Rugby team during their training camps, reflecting the centre’s high standard and suitability. The Jovili Meo Mission Centre (JMMC) has become a trusted gathering place for dialogue, reflection, and collaboration, hosting high-level meetings, symposiums, and conferences that bring together church leaders, government representatives, academics, development practitioners, and community organisations from across the Pacific. As a centre for learning and engagement, JMMC provides a welcoming space where ideas are shared, partnerships are strengthened, and critical issues affecting Pasifika communities are thoughtfully explored. By convening these important events, JMMC continues to foster informed discussion, encourage collaborative leadership, and support practical initiatives that contribute to the social, spiritual, and sustainable development of the region. Beyond its services, JMMC plays an important role as a revenue-generating arm of PCU, contributing to the sustainability of the university while continuing to serve communities, organisations, and partners with excellence.
PARTNERSHIPS
Strengthening Regional Partnerships with Tuvalu
MARCH
PCU recently hosted a bilateral meeting with the Honourable Minister for Education of Tuvalu, Afioga Ulua’ipouomalo Hamoa Holona, and his delegation in March this year to explore opportunities for Tuvaluan students to access programmes offered at the university.
Discussions focused on pathways for scholarship students and strengthening regional collaboration in higher education. Representing PCU were the Tautai ( Pro Chancelor) Dr. Akanisi Kedrayate and senior academic leaders, while the Tuvalu delegation included Deputy Secretary Leilani Saitala and PA Masoli Filioma.
Hon. Holona welcomed the engagement, noting the timeliness of building a meaningful partnership that supports the aspirations of Tuvaluan students and the wider Pacific. He proposed the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signalling a shared commitment to accessible education.
This meeting marks an important step in positioning PCU as a preferred study destination for Tuvaluan students and highlights the growing strength of regional cooperation in higher education.
PCU Hosts University of Otago Delegation
MARCH
Pasifika Communities University (PCU) recently hosted a delegation from the University of Otago, led by Vice-Chancellor His Excellency Honourable Grant Robertson. The visit began with morning devotion, followed by a traditional welcome at the Jovili Meo Mission Centre and a bilateral meeting with PCU leadership.
Welcoming the delegation were Tautai(Pro Chancellor) Dr. Akanisi Kedrayate and the Fa atere Brian Bird, and the university’s executive team.
In his remarks, Hon. Robertson reflected on the longstanding historical ties between the institutions and reaffirmed Otago’s commitment to Pacific engagement and deeper understanding of Pacific theology.
Discussions focused on renewing the Memorandum of Understanding, with plans to strengthen collaboration through staff and student exchanges, joint research, and advanced theological education. The renewed partnership highlights a shared commitment to learning, knowledge exchange, and meaningful engagement for Pasifika communities.
COMMUNITY & FAITH
Pacific Church Leaders Gather in Suva
APRIL
“Church leaders from across the Pacific gathered in Suva at Pasifika Communities University for one week. PCU assisted PCC, as the main host, with logistics, facilities and programme input. This is a good example of the PEC (Pacific Ecumenical Community) in action, where ecumenical institutions support and help each other to design and host significant evens.”
The gathering focused on strengthening shared vision, deepening relationships, and addressing key regional challenges through a theological lens.
In a powerful opening sermon, World Council of Churches General Secretary, Prof. Rev. Dr. Jerry Pillay, spoke on resurrection as God’s promise of life in the midst of crisis, calling on churches to embody hope, unity, and courage in the face of climate change, economic pressures, and social challenges across the Pacific.
The meeting accommodated a community visit to Togoru Village in Navua, and ran from Monday the 13th through to Friday the 17th of April.
BOOK LAUNCH
A Milestone Moment for Pasifika Knowledge
APRIL
Pasifika Communities University recently marked a significant milestone with the successful launch of Climate Change in Pasifika Relational Perspectives, a powerful publication that highlighted the essential role of PCU Press as a leading voice in Pacific scholarship.
Co-edited by Vice Chancellor Manu Folau, Rev. Dr. Upolu Luma Vaai, alongside an esteemed group of international scholars, the book brings Pasifika knowledge systems to the forefront of global climate discourse.
The event, held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Conference Hall, was officiated by the Prime Minister of Fiji, the Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka, underscoring its national and regional importance.
Published through PCU Press in partnership with the Toda Peace Institute, the volume explored climate change through a distinctly Pasifika lens centred on relationality and the interconnectedness of people, land, ocean, and spirituality.
Bringing together voices from academia, policy, activism, and community leadership, the publication stood as a bold statement: that Pacific knowledge is not supplementary, but essential. The launch not only celebrated a book, but affirmed a growing movement, one grounded in identity, connection, and a shared responsibility for the future.
TOLOA’S SPACE
Stories from Kaliloa & Toloa
MARCH, WRITTEN BY GRACE TAITO TORA, ENGLISH KALILOA AT PCU
“I absolutely love being at PCU (Pasifika Communities University). One of the University’s key pillars is its community-based focus. Last week I took my UW300 Graduate Portfolio students to Naviavia in Vanua Levu. We spent three days with the people of Naviavia, learning about their history, visiting their primary school, St. Paul Mission School, and sharing with students the importance of an education that will empower them to serve and develop their own communities.”
The visit included trekking through mud after low tide prevented the boat from reaching the usual drop-off point while carrying firewood, worshipping with the youth during a Youth Fellowship night, partaking in holy communion with community members on Sunday, sharing meals of fish and dalo, and sitting around the yaqona bowl listening to stories and experiences. “The people of Naviavia are a resilient people,” Grace shared.
Naviavia Settlement sits within land known as Natoavatu, about 60km west of Savusavu town on Vanua Levu. Its inhabitants are of Solomon Islander descent, descendants of those brought to Fiji during the blackbirding period, when displaced Melanesian people were brought to Fiji to work on plantations and build roads. Natoavatu’s 5,800 acres were bequeathed to the Anglican Church in 1876 by Mr. John Campbell, and the people who settled Naviavia were recruited by the church in the early 1940s with a promise of a better future for their children.
In 2014, the Church trustees, through the facilitation of the Fiji Government, sold part of the property, allocating 300 acres to the people of Naviavia. Before the sale, the land supported copra, dalo, and cattle farming, once among the best cattle operations in Vanua Levu in the 1960s and 70s. When the plantation was sold, workers turned to gardening and sugar cane cutting in Labasa for income.
This is only one of several community visits made while at PCU. Grace also reflected on earlier visits to Qoma, Tailevu, and Navunikabi, Namosi, communities she described as unique and resilient in their own ways, with Qoma navigating the effects of global warming and Navunikabi standing against the building of a dam.
Vinaka vakalevu to Naviavia for the loloma and veiqaravi, to the Women’s Fellowship for their lovely meals, the youth for sharing their space, and the men for the endless supply of yaqona for the talanoa sessions. Ai sota tale.
STUDENT VOICES
Learning That Transforms Life
FEBRUARY – APRIL
At PCU, students experience more than academic learning, they undergo personal growth that builds confidence, identity, and purpose. Through real-life engagement and community-focused study, they connect knowledge with action and see their communities as strengths.
Guided by the Whole of Life vision, education at PCU is holistic, relational, and rooted in Pacific values, integrating mind, body, spirit, and community. As a result, students are not just prepared for careers but are shaped into leaders committed to serving and strengthening their communities.
ETINA HAVEA KINDERGARTEN
A New Beginning
2026 marked a new chapter for Etina Havea Kindergarten with the appointment of Vaseva Nailaba as Head Teacher. The warm welcome from students and families highlighted the school’s strong sense of community and shared commitment to providing a nurturing environment for young learners.
January Highlights
The school year preparations began on January 6, with teachers organizing classrooms and preparing learning materials for the new term. Essential supplies and cleaning items were purchased to ensure the centre was ready for students.
Classes officially resumed on January 27, welcoming 20 kindergarten students and five preschoolers. Teachers prepared weekly lesson plans aligned with learning outcomes to support quality teaching and learning.
February Highlights
February focused on community engagement, student wellbeing, and spiritual growth.
• Staff participated in the PCU Open Day on February 9.
• Kindergarten Orientation was held on February 11.
• Students attended an Ash Wednesday chapel service on February 18.
• A successful Working Bee on February 21 brought parents together to clean the school grounds and celebrate a student birthday.
• The First Nurse Team conducted student health check-ups on February 25.
March Highlights
March began with a precautionary school closure following a hurricane warning to ensure student safety. Parents also received updated fee reminders, and the kindergarten purchased a television to support more engaging classroom learning experiences.
April Highlights
Due to a cyclone warning, the school temporarily closed on April 6 as a safety precaution. On April 24, the first PTA meeting was held with strong parent participation. Parents supported a fundraising initiative called “$1 Block a Vote” to assist with the students’ upcoming trip to Kula Wild Adventure Park.
Parent Interviews were also conducted on April 29, strengthening communication between teachers and families regarding student progress and development.
IN MEMORIAM
In Loving Memory of Rev. Dr. Iliesa Jovili Meo (14 June 1944 – 24 June 2026)
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7
Pasifika Communities University honours the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Iliesa Jovili Meo, former Principal of the Pacific Theological College (now Pasifika Communities University), who faithfully served God, the Church, and the people of the Pacific.
Serving as Principal from 1996 to 2001, Rev. Dr. Meo was a visionary leader who strengthened theological education, championed Pacific-centred scholarship, and nurtured generations of church and community leaders. His leadership was marked by wisdom, humility, and an unwavering commitment to faith, service, and justice.
His enduring legacy lives on through the Jovili Meo Mission Centre and in the countless lives he touched through his teaching, mentorship, and ministry.
Pasifika Communities University extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, former colleagues, students, and the wider Pacific community. We give thanks for a life faithfully lived and celebrate a servant leader whose influence will continue to inspire generations.
May Rev. Dr. Iliesa Jovili Meo rest in the eternal peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
In Loving Memory of Two Faithful Servants
The Pasifika Communities University (PCU) family joins the Anglican Church of Melanesia and the Methodist Church of Fiji in mourning the passing of two cherished graduates whose lives were marked by faith, humility, and dedicated service to God.
We remember Father George Pukukesa, who graduated in April 2025 with a Master of Theology (with Distinction). A gentle and humble servant of God, Father George inspired many through his quiet strength and perseverance. In his graduation address, he reflected that his studies and family worries had taught him the preciousness of life and his duty to cherish it. His words and life remain a lasting testimony of faith, resilience, and grace.
We also honour Rev. Susana Cokanauto (Fiji), who completed her Master of Theology (Old Testament) in 2022. A devoted minister of the Methodist Church of Fiji, Rev. Susana faithfully served God with wisdom, compassion, and a deep passion for Scripture and the Gospel. Her life touched many, and her legacy of service will continue to inspire generations.
As we grieve their passing, we give thanks for their faithful witness and rejoice in the hope of the resurrection.
“Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your Master.” — Matthew 25:23
The PCU community extends its heartfelt condolences and prayers to their families, church communities, colleagues, and loved ones. May they rest in God’s eternal peace.
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NA LACA
Pasifika Communities University • Six-Monthly Newsletter • 1st Edition, Second Semester 2026
