“Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5)
AS the sun sets on the year that has been and dawn rises over our Pacific horizon, we pause as a nation to give thanks.
Fiji is more than islands scattered across the ocean; it is a people bound together by faith, family, and the spirit of veiwekani (relationship). At this threshold of a new year, we carry lessons of yesterday and hopes for tomorrow.
The turning of the year is not merely a change of calendar; it is a spiritual invitation. It calls us to reflect on the journey we have walked, to honor sacrifices made, and to renew our commitment to one another. Every dawn is a gift from God, every challenge a chance to grow.
The year behind us brought storms both literal and figurative—cyclones that tested our resilience, economic challenges that stretched our resources, and global uncertainties that touched our shores.
Yet we stood firm. Villages rebuilt, families prayed, and communities extended compassion.
We give thanks for the courage of our peacekeepers serving abroad, for farmers and fishers sustaining our nation, for the police and the army, teachers and nurses who worked tirelessly, and for leaders who strive for the common good.
We remember with reverence those we lost, whose memory remains woven into our families and communities. Gratitude is the soil from which hope grows.
The new year is a canvas yet unpainted. It invites us to dream boldly, act faithfully, and walk together in unity with these;
-Faith: Let us begin with God, who is the Alpha and Omega. May our worship be deeds of love;
-Family: Let us strengthen the bonds of vuvale. May parents nurture with patience, children honor with respect, and elders guide with wisdom;
-Community: Fiji’s strength lies in solesolevaki—working together. Let us rebuild, reconcile, and rejoice; and
-Nation: May our leaders govern with humility, and our people participate with responsibility.
In the tapestry of Fiji, every thread matters. Indigenous Fijians, Indo-Fijians, Rotuman’s, Pacific neighbours, and others who call these islands home—we are one people under the same sky. Diversity is a gift. Unity means honouring differences while seeking common ground, listening with respect, and acting with justice.
In this new year, let us also set aside the divisions that sometimes arise from our different beliefs and church traditions. Fiji’s strength is not found in uniformity, but in harmony.
When we choose love above all, we discover that what unites us is greater than what separates us. The cross reminds us that love is the highest calling, and it is love that will carry us forward as one people, one nation, one family under God.
Though small in size, Fiji’s voice carries across oceans. Our peacekeepers remind the world that courage is measured by heart. Our sportsman inspires with discipline, our artists share culture, and our churches witness to faith lived in service.
As climate change threatens our shores, Fiji must stand as a prophet to the nations, reminding the world that creation is sacred and the earth our common home.
Hope is the heartbeat of the new year. We hope for children growing in safety, families thriving in love, communities flourishing in peace, and a nation shining as a beacon of resilience and unity.
May the land be fertile, the seas abundant, and the skies gentle. May our leaders be wise, our families strong, and our communities united.
Above all, may God’s grace cover Fiji like morning dew, refreshing and sustaining us in every season.
Fiji, the dawn of a new year is upon us. Let us rise with courage, walk with faith, and live with love. The God who carried us through yesterday will guide us through tomorrow.
Happy New Year, Fiji. May 2026 be a year of blessing, unity, and hope.
The Korolevu family from Cunningham enjoys the day at the My Suva Picnic Park in Nasese. Picture: ANASEINI DIMATE
