A National Consultative Land Forum bringing together landowners, tenants and State representatives in equal numbers would be established under Fiji’s proposed 2026 Draft Constitution.
The provision requires Parliament to enact legislation establishing the Forum, which would provide a national platform for consultation, research and consensus-building on land issues.
Under the proposal, the Forum would be chaired by a person with knowledge of Fiji’s land law or land administration who does not hold public office and does not represent either landowner or tenant interests.
The remaining membership would be divided equally among three stakeholder groups — State bodies and enterprises involved in land policy, management and administration; landowners; and tenants.
Landowner representatives would have to provide a balance between freehold and customary landowners, while tenant representation would reflect Fiji’s urban and rural communities and agricultural, commercial and residential land users.
The Forum would be tasked with educating the public about land ownership, use and administration and conducting research into land-related issues.
It would also convene discussions on land issues within their wider social and economic context and seek to build consensus where possible.
Importantly, the Forum would be empowered to make proposals to Government on land policy, legislation and related institutions, as well as review Government land policy and legislative proposals and provide advisory opinions.
The National Consultative Land Forum proposal forms part of the Draft Constitution’s broader provisions dealing with land and group rights, including recommendations concerning customary land and qoliqoli ownership.
The proposal remains part of the Draft Constitution and would require the necessary constitutional and legislative processes before taking effect.
