John Fatiaki
Encyclopedia
Dr John Charles Fatiaki is a career medical practitioner who was chosen by the Rotuma Island Council
to be their representative in the Fijian Senate
.
and Lautoka
before moving to Tasmania
, Australia
to study medicine at the University of Tasmania
. Upon return he operated a medical practice in Suva, as well as spending time working on the island of Rotuma, at the small local hospital. In addition to this he cooperated with the local court and interpreted the proceedings into English for the presiding district officer.
to represent the 2000-odd inhabitants of the Polynesian dependency
of Fiji in the Senate of Fiji. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/06/03/06Fijilive0303.html Since his selection he has been active in lobbying, together with George Konrote
for the removal of the Bulou ni Ceva, a Fijian sea vessel that was stranded on the reef in Rotuma, putting the local environment at risk. In addition, he has been pushing for improvements to the Rotuman airstrip which is in a serious state of disrepair.
film Pear ta ma 'on mafa (The Land has Eyes), which was directed by Vilsoni Hereniko
. The film made its world premiere
at the Sundance Film Festival
in 2004. Dr Fatiaki played the role of Poto, a corrupt court interpreter.
, is the Chief Justice of Fiji
.
Council of Rotuma
The Council of Rotuma is a municipal body on the island of Rotuma, a Fijian dependency. Owing to the unique character of Rotuma, the powers of this council are greater than those of other municipal bodies in Fiji and in some ways it approximates a legislative body, though it is in every way...
to be their representative in the Fijian Senate
Senate (Fiji)
The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them...
.
Education and early career
For the first six years of his life John Fatiaki was raised in Rotuma by his grandparents (in the style of traditional Rotuman adoption practices), where his grandfather owned the one and only movie theater on the island. At the age of six, John moved to Suva to live with his biological parents, and it is here that he learned English. His father, a renowned Rotuman author and educator, Aselemo Fatiaki , assigned each of his six sons an occupation to achieve at the age of twelve. Dr Fatiaki attended high school in SuvaSuva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
and Lautoka
Lautoka
Lautoka is the second largest city of Fiji and the second largest in the South Pacific. It is in the west of the island of Viti Levu, 24 kilometres north of Nadi, and is the second port of entry in Fiji, after Suva. Lying in the heart of Fiji's sugar cane growing region, it is known as the Sugar...
before moving to Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to study medicine at the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
. Upon return he operated a medical practice in Suva, as well as spending time working on the island of Rotuma, at the small local hospital. In addition to this he cooperated with the local court and interpreted the proceedings into English for the presiding district officer.
Senate career
In 2006, he was selected by the Council of RotumaCouncil of Rotuma
The Council of Rotuma is a municipal body on the island of Rotuma, a Fijian dependency. Owing to the unique character of Rotuma, the powers of this council are greater than those of other municipal bodies in Fiji and in some ways it approximates a legislative body, though it is in every way...
to represent the 2000-odd inhabitants of the Polynesian dependency
Dependent territory
A dependent territory, dependent area or dependency is a territory that does not possess full political independence or sovereignty as a State, and remains politically outside of the controlling state's integral area....
of Fiji in the Senate of Fiji. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/06/03/06Fijilive0303.html Since his selection he has been active in lobbying, together with George Konrote
George Konrote
Major General Jioji Konousi Konrote, MC, better known as George Konrote, is a retired Major-General of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and a former diplomat. From May to December 2006, he was a Fijian Cabinet Minister. He is a native of the island of Rotuma...
for the removal of the Bulou ni Ceva, a Fijian sea vessel that was stranded on the reef in Rotuma, putting the local environment at risk. In addition, he has been pushing for improvements to the Rotuman airstrip which is in a serious state of disrepair.
The Land has Eyes
Dr Fatiaki also played a role in the award-winning Rotuman languageRotuman language
Rotuman, also referred to as Rotunan, Rutuman or Fäeag Rotuma, is an Austronesian language spoken by the indigenous people of the South Pacific island group of Rotuma, an island with a Polynesian-influenced culture that was incorporated as a dependency into the Colony of Fiji in 1881...
film Pear ta ma 'on mafa (The Land has Eyes), which was directed by Vilsoni Hereniko
Vilsoni Hereniko
Vilsoni Hereniko is a Fiji Islander playwright, film director and academic. He was the writer and director of Fiji's first ever feature film, The Land Has Eyes .-Biography:...
. The film made its world premiere
Premiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
in 2004. Dr Fatiaki played the role of Poto, a corrupt court interpreter.
Personal life
Dr Fatiaki is married to Sineva and has eight children. He has residences in both Suva and Rotuma. His older brother, Daniel FatiakiDaniel Fatiaki
Taniela Vafo'ou Fatiaki CF was the Chief Justice of Fiji from 1 August 2002, when he succeeded Sir Timoci Tuivaga, till 5 December 2008. As Chief Justice, he presided over both the High Court and the Supreme Court, but is constitutionally barred from presiding over, or even sitting on, the...
, is the Chief Justice of Fiji
Chief Justice (Fiji)
The Chief Justice is Fiji's highest judicial officer. He or she is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is required by the Constitution to consult the Leader of the Opposition. This does not give the Leader of the Opposition a veto, only the right to be consulted. ...
.