Sunday, June 23, 2013

Levuka a heritage site

from w
Good news for Levuka one of my favourite places in Fiji, much more interesting for tourists than a resort, with its history and unusual line of buildings hugging the shoreline.  I'm not sure though about the reference to the 'supreme naval power' in the article.  Who are they talking about?  Not the rum bottles floating with the tide in the days of the beachcombers and hanger-on around Levuka!

And the wonderful song 'Sai Levuka ga'  which featured in a film about a grandmother from Levuka living in New Zealand. Number Two.

Sai Levuka ga, au nanuma tu
Na kena vei lasa kece
Dau vovotu mai, e na veivei gauna
Vei siga kei Levuka
Chorus:
Vei vatu loa, ka koro makawa
Seva na vei biau, kei Viti-e-Loma
Dau vadugu tu, na kena cakau
Lali ni neirau vakamau

2
E makare tu, vei au oqo
Na noqu gauna e Levuka
E na noqu tu, kau raica lesu
Rui kamica dina vei au

Chorus:
Vei vatu loa, ka koro makawa
Seva na vei biau, kei Viti-e-Loma
Dau vadugu tu, na kena cakau
Lali ni neirau vakamau





from Fiji Village:

Levuka now listed as World Heritage site
Publish date/time: 24/06/2013 [07:17]
History has been created today as the old capital Levuka is now listed as a World Heritage site.

The message was relayed to the Minister for Education and National Heritage Filipe Bole after the World Heritage Committee meeting in Cambodia.

Bole said this will see developments for Levuka and will also attract tourists.

He said the application was made to UNESCO in 2011 to make Levuka as a heritage site for Fiji.

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the listing was bound to generate more international interest for the town.

The Committee described Levuka - with “its low line of buildings set among coconut and mango trees along the beach front” - as a “rare” and “outstanding example of late 19th century Pacific port settlements”.

It said the combination of “development by the indigenous community” and “integration of local building traditions by a supreme naval power” - Britain - had led to ‘the emergence of a unique landscape’.


Story by: Watisoni Butabua

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