History of Fiji in Timeline

Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, Oceania, situated in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,100 nautical miles northeast of New Zealand. Its archipelago comprises over 330 islands, with around 110 permanently inhabited, and more than 500 islets, totaling about 18,300 square kilometers. Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are the major islands, home to about 87% of the population. Three-quarters of Fijians reside on Viti Levu's coasts, primarily in Suva, Nadi, or Lautoka, while the island's interior remains sparsely populated due to its terrain.

1914: Apolosi Nawai founded Viti Kabani

In 1914, Apolosi Nawai came to the forefront of Fijian Tuka resistance by founding Viti Kabani, a co-operative company that would legally monopolise the agricultural sector and boycott European planters.

1915: Arrest of Apolosi and followers

In 1915, Apolosi and his followers were arrested and the Viti Kabani company collapsed after the British and their proxy Council of Chiefs sent in the Armed Native Constabulary.

1916: End of Indian Indenture System

By 1916, the steady influx of ships carrying indentured Indians to Fiji had resulted in a total of 39,261 repatriates under the Fiji indenture system and 60,553 arrivals. Because the return figure includes children born in Fiji, many of the indentured Indians never returned to India.

September 1917: Count Felix von Luckner surrendered

In September 1917, Count Felix von Luckner arrived at Wakaya Island and on 21 September, the district police inspector took a number of Fijians to Wakaya, and von Luckner surrendered.

1917: Collapse of Viti Kabani

In 1917, Viti Kabani collapsed after Apolosi and his followers were arrested in 1915.

1921: Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna returned to Fiji

In 1921, a great-grandson of Cakobau, returned to Fiji as both a war hero and the country's first-ever university graduate after completing a law degree at Oxford University.

1946: Death of Apolosi Nawai

Apolosi Nawai was viewed as a threat by the British right up to his death in 1946.

July 1965: Constitutional conference held in London

In July 1965, a constitutional conference was held in London to discuss constitutional changes with a view to introducing responsible government.

1967: Cabinet system of government established

In 1967, a series of compromises led to the establishment of a cabinet system of government, with Ratu Kamisese Mara as the first Chief Minister.

1969: Sidiq Koya took over leadership

In 1969, Sidiq Koya took over the leadership of the mainly Indo-Fijian National Federation Party on Patel's death.

April 1970: Constitutional conference in London

In April 1970, a second constitutional conference in London took place at which Fiji's Legislative Council agreed on a compromise electoral formula and a timetable for independence as a fully sovereign and independent nation within the Commonwealth.

October 1970: Independence

In October 1970, the British flag was lowered for the last time and the Fijian flag was raised, marking the country's official independence.

1970: Independence gained

In 1970, Fiji gained independence and became known as the Dominion of Fiji.

1970: Restoration of constitution

The Group Against Racial Discrimination (GARD) was formed to oppose the unilaterally imposed constitution and to restore the 1970 constitution.

1976: Inception of Hong Kong Sevens

Since its inception in 1976, the Fiji national sevens side has won the Hong Kong Sevens a record eighteen times.

1986: Fiji showcases its culture at the World Exposition in Vancouver

In 1986, Fiji's culture was showcased at the World Exposition held in Vancouver, Canada.

1987: Military government declared a republic

Following a series of coups d'état in 1987, the military government that had taken power declared Fiji a republic.

1987: Military coups

In 1987, democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups precipitated by a growing perception that the government was dominated by the Indo-Fijian community. The second 1987 coup saw both the Fijian monarchy and the Governor General replaced by a non-executive president and the name of the country changed from Dominion of Fiji to Republic of Fiji.

1987: Fiji reaches the quarter-finals at the Rugby World Cup

In 1987, the Fiji national rugby union team competed at the Rugby World Cup for the first time and reached the quarter-finals.

1990: Ethnic Fijian domination of the political system

In 1990, the new constitution institutionalised ethnic Fijian domination of the political system.

1991: Fiji wins the Pacific Games football tournament

In 1991, Fiji won the Pacific Games football tournament.

1992: Sitiveni Rabuka became Prime Minister

In 1992 Sitiveni Rabuka became Prime Minister following elections held under the new constitution.

1992: Fiji national rugby league team participates in international competition

Since 1992, the Fiji national rugby league team, nicknamed the Bati, has been participating in international competition.

1996: Indo-Fijian Christians in 1996

In the 1996 census, Christians comprised 6.1% of the Indo-Fijian population.

1997: Name Change

In 1997 the name of the country changed to Republic of the Fiji Islands.

1997: Fiji wins the Rugby World Cup Sevens

In 1997, Fiji won the Rugby World Cup Sevens.

1997: Official languages under the 1997 constitution

In 1997, Fiji's constitution recognized three official languages: English, Fijian (iTaukei), and Hindi.

1997: New constitution written

In 1997, a new constitution was written and supported by most leaders of the indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian communities, leading to Fiji's re-admission to the Commonwealth of Nations.

1997: Adoption of new constitution

In 1997, the adoption of the new constitution led to Mahendra Chaudhry becoming the country's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister.

1997: English loses sole official language status

Until 1997, English was the sole official language; after 1997 it remained widely used in government, business, and education.

1999: Netball team reaches 6th position in Netball World Cup

In 1999, Fiji's national netball team reached its highest level to date, securing 6th position at the Netball World Cup.

2000: Post-coup reprisals against Indo-Fijians

In 2000, Indo-Fijians suffered reprisals following a coup. Relationships between ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians in the political arena have often been strained, and the tension between the two communities has dominated politics in the islands for the past generation.

2000: Coup and mutinies

In 2000, a coup was instigated by George Speight. Later in 2000, Fiji was rocked by two mutinies when rebel soldiers went on a rampage at Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks.

2000: Compensation for victims of coup

In 2000, the Qarase government proposed a Reconciliation and Unity Commission with power to recommend compensation for victims.

2000: Previously pending legislation to pardon

In December 2006, a particular issue was previously pending legislation to pardon those involved in the 2000 coup.

2000: Pardons to participants in coup

In late November and early December 2006, part of the bill that was put forward to parliament would have offered pardons to participants in the 2000 coup attempt.

September 2001: General election held

In September 2001, a general election was held to restore democracy, which was won by interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party.

2003: Fiji wins the Pacific Games football tournament

In 2003, Fiji won the Pacific Games football tournament.

2005: Fiji wins the Rugby World Cup Sevens

In 2005, Fiji won the Rugby World Cup Sevens.

2005: Proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission

In 2005, the Qarase government proposed a Reconciliation and Unity Commission with power to recommend compensation for victims of the 2000 coup and amnesty for its perpetrators. The military, especially Frank Bainimarama, strongly opposed this bill.

December 2006: Bainimarama handed down list of demands to Qarase

In late November and early December 2006, Bainimarama handed down a list of demands to Qarase after a bill was put forward to parliament, part of which would have offered pardons to participants in the 2000 coup attempt. Qarase adamantly refused either to concede or resign, and on 5 December President Ratu Josefa Iloilo signed a legal order dissolving the parliament after meeting with Bainimarama.

December 2006: Military takeover staged

On 5 December 2006, Bainimarama staged a military takeover against the prime minister and dissolved the parliament, naming Jona Senilagakali as caretaker prime minister. The coup was the culmination of weeks of speculation following conflict between the elected prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, and Bainimarama. A particular issue was previously pending legislation to pardon those involved in the 2000 coup.

2006: Coup d'état

In 2006, Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power in a coup.

January 2007: Military restored executive power

On 4 January 2007, the military announced that it was restoring executive power to Iloilo, who made a broadcast endorsing the actions of the military. The next day, Iloilo named Bainimarama as the interim prime minister, indicating that the military was still effectively in control.

2007: Religion statistics from 2007

As of 2007, among Christians in Fiji, 54% were Methodist, 14.2% Catholic, 8.9% Assemblies of God, 6.0% Seventh-day Adventist, 1.2% Anglican, with 16.1% belonging to other denominations.

2007: Fiji qualifies for the quarter-finals at the Rugby World Cup

In 2007, Fiji qualified for the quarter-finals at the Rugby World Cup, upsetting Wales 38–34, where they lost to South Africa.

2007: Netball team wins gold medals at Pacific Games

In 2007, Fiji's national netball team won gold medals at the Pacific Games.

2007: Great Council of Chiefs suspended

In 2007, the Great Council of Chiefs was suspended by the military-backed interim government.

August 2008: Proposal to change the name of Fiji's citizens

In August 2008, it was announced that the People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress recommended that all citizens of Fiji, regardless of ethnicity, be called "Fijians" and that indigenous Fijians be called "itaukei". Deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and the Methodist Church strongly opposed the proposal.

2008: Fiji defeats New Zealand in the OFC Nations Cup

In 2008, the Fiji national football team defeated New Zealand 2–0 in the OFC Nations Cup, on their way to a joint-record third-place finish.

2008: Fiji reaches semi-final in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup

The Fiji Bati team reached semi-final in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

April 2009: Voreqe Bainimarama address during constitutional crisis

In April 2009, during the constitutional crisis, military leader and interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama addressed the nation regarding the attempt to change the definition of "Fijian".

2009: Samoa departs from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance

In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga in the union.

2009: Military leadership deemed unlawful

In 2009, the Fijian High Court ruled that the military leadership was unlawful, leading to President Ratu Josefa Iloilo formally abrogating the 1997 Constitution and re-appointing Bainimarama as interim prime minister. Later in 2009, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau succeeded Iloilo as president.

May 2010: Attorney-General reiterates "Fijian" definition

In May 2010, Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum reiterated that the term "Fijian" should apply to all Fiji nationals, but the statement was met with protest. The Viti Landowners and Resource Owners Association claimed that the term refers to a legal standing, since legislation affords specific rights to indigenous Fijians.

2010: Fiji showcases its culture at the Shanghai World Expo

In 2010, Fiji's culture was showcased at the Shanghai World Expo, along with other Pacific countries in the Pacific Pavilion.

2012: Great Council of Chiefs abolished

In 2012, the Great Council of Chiefs was abolished.

2013: Continuation of official languages under the 2013 Constitution

In 2013, the 2013 Constitution maintained the three official languages: English, Fijian (iTaukei), and Hindi.

2013: Fiji reaches semi-final in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup

The Fiji Bati team reached semi-final in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

September 2014: Democratic election

On 17 September 2014, a democratic election took place after years of delays. Bainimarama's FijiFirst party won 59.2% of the vote, and international observers deemed the election credible.