Members of the Electoral Commission Republic of Fiji, Commissioner Susana Naisara and Commissioner Nemani Mati;
Chargé d’Affaires of the New Zealand High Commission, Mr Sam Cox;
Staff of the New Zealand High Commission;
Our Technical Advisors from the New Zealand Electoral Commission; and
Members of My FEO family.
Ara na yadra, and a Victorious Morning to you all.
It is a pleasure to welcome you all this morning as we gather for what may seem like a simple handover, but represents something much greater, a shared commitment to strengthening Fiji’s democratic processes.
On behalf of the Fijian Elections Office, I wish to express our sincere appreciation to the Government and people of Aotearoa New Zealand for this generous donation of digital equipment. We are deeply grateful for your continued partnership and the confidence you have in our institution.
As we continue our preparations for the upcoming General Election, having the right tools is just as important as having the right people. The equipment we receive today will significantly strengthen the work of our Stakeholder Engagement and Awareness Department and our Production Unit by enhancing our ability to engage with communities, produce high-quality voter awareness and educational content, document electoral activities, and communicate timely and accurate election information across Fiji.
This donation includes professional-grade laptops and tablets, cameras and camcorders, mobile production equipment, microphones, digital recording devices and other specialised equipment that will enable our teams to produce multimedia content, capture and broadcast electoral activities, strengthen digital engagement, support field operations and improve collaboration throughout the election period and beyond. These are investments that will continue to benefit the Fijian Elections Office long after the upcoming General Election has concluded.
This investment in our capability comes at an important time. At the heart of everything we do at the Fijian Elections Office is our commitment to the people of Fiji. Whether we are registering first-time voters, providing accurate electoral information, supporting transparent electoral processes, or ensuring that every eligible Fijian has the opportunity to participate in our democracy, our focus remains on delivering professional, accessible and trusted electoral services. This investment strengthens our ability to fulfil that responsibility with greater efficiency, innovation and reach.
This donation is another reflection of the strong and enduring partnership between Fiji and New Zealand, founded on mutual respect, cooperation and our shared commitment to democratic governance. The Government of New Zealand has long been a valued partner of the Fijian Elections Office. Your support over many years has contributed significantly to strengthening electoral administration in Fiji, and we are grateful that this partnership continues as we prepare for another important General Election.
To CDA Sam Cox, and the team from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, thank you for your generosity, your confidence in the work of the Fijian Elections Office, and your continued investment in our capability. Your support will have a lasting impact on our ability to deliver electoral services to the people of Fiji and to continue building public confidence in our electoral processes.
To everyone present this morning, thank you for joining us to witness this important occasion and for your continued support of the Fijian Elections Office.
Vinaka vakalevu, and I wish you all a Victorious Tuesday.
