The New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta says visiting Bau will inform her of a number of things but actually, it gives her a deeper insight into i-Taukei culture and their aspirations going forward into the future.
While speaking during a joint press conference with Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka in Nadi today, Mahuta says it is very important to ensure that during her time as Minister of Foreign Affairs, they connect at an indigenous to indigenous level with culture and strengthen one another's understanding of their common aspirations.
She says her visit to Bau will be an educational experience and will also reaffirm how important it is to ensure that indigenous culture is connected with.
Rabuka says the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People was never ratified by Fiji, but on Tuesday a cabinet decision was passed to ratify it.
He says it is very significant that Mahuta is visiting Bau and the Turaga Bale na Vunivalu after the Government recognised the Declaration.
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