About 24 percent of Fiji’s urban population is currently living in informal settlements, with many families facing insecure land tenure, poor housing conditions and inadequate basic services.
Speaking during the Pacific Housing Forum at the Holiday Inn in Suva, Minister for Housing Maciu Nalumisa says Fiji’s housing crisis has reached a critical stage and warns that the country can no longer maintain the status quo.
The Minister reveals that Fiji’s 2017 Census showed nearly half of the country’s housing stock is of average to poor quality, leaving thousands of families vulnerable to increasingly severe cyclones and climate-related disasters.
Nalumisa says Fiji also faces a major affordability crisis, with the price of homes exceeding three times the average household income, making home ownership unattainable for many families.
He says the country is expected to require around 1,600 new dwellings annually over the next 30 years to meet the growing demand.
Nalumisa stresses that housing is not only a constitutional right under Fiji’s 2013 Constitution, but also a cornerstone of financial security, social stability and climate resilience.
The Minister says the Government has now launched the National Housing Policy 2025–2030, describing it as a major shift from fragmented housing interventions towards a coordinated national strategy focused on accessibility, resilience and inclusion.
Insert: Nalumisa - Housing issue May 21
He says Cabinet will establish a subcommittee dedicated to reviewing the housing sector across rural, urban and peri-urban communities, as more than half of Fiji’s population now live in peri-urban and urban areas.
He acknowledged that low-income earners and vulnerable families continue to struggle to access land, housing and finance.
Nalumisa says the Government is now prioritising targeted assistance for people earning below $30,000 annually, many of whom are unable to secure financing through traditional lending institutions.
As part of efforts to address informal settlements, Nalumisa confirmed the Government has already acquired 48 development leases around the country under its settlement upgrading programme.
He says these developments allow the Government to formalise informal settlements through proper planning and eventually provide registered leases to long-term residents.
He says secure land tenure gives families the opportunity to upgrade their homes, access loans and invest in areas such as education and family welfare.
The Minister also highlighted the Government’s First Home Ownership Grant and new rent-to-own schemes being explored through the Housing Authority of Fiji and the Public Rental Board.
He says the Government is now looking at ways tenants renting Public Rental Board flats may eventually be able to purchase the units they occupy.
Nalumisa also outlined plans to strengthen climate resilience standards in the housing sector, including a target for at least 20 percent of new housing developments to be certified as green housing by 2030.
He says Fiji is moving towards full compliance with updated National Building Code and climate resilience standards while encouraging more sustainable building models, including steel and prefabricated construction systems.
He says strong governance and reliable national housing data will also be critical in shaping effective future policies and strategies.
