Dr Christine Rogers shares her experience filming in Savusavu for the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research.

"I was recently given the opportunity to accompany Belinda Christensen, an ACPIR honours student, to Fiji. My instructions were to take a camera and have a look around. On the flight in a tiny prop from Viti Levu to Vanua Levu green hills, sparkling waters and shallow reefs rolled elegantly beneath us.

In Savusavu, Richard Markham was our guide. At his business, KokoMana chocolate, his cats lolled on our laps as we acclimatised and I discovered that Joeli Nataki, his farm manager and tour guide, was the perfect talent.

We overnighted at Vusaratu village where Richard and his team are working with the villagers to set up sustainable eco-tourism and farming practices. That evening, the women carried in many delicious plates of food with beaming faces.

In the morning we followed men and boys up the hillside to plant the tall trees that will provide shade for coco and other crop trees. The boys scrambled over the steep hillside with machetes, skilful and fit. Belinda proved an excellent camera assistant. 

Pranesh Kishore drove me out to Raviravi village where pearl farming provides important additional income. Women stood in the sea, cleaning the oysters so their growth is unimpaired. In the village they proudly showed me mabé pearls and the woven cords for necklaces they were taught to make by a Māori expert. They are waiting on the next harvest to resume their handicrafts.

I hope to return to these villages and spend more time gaining trust and gathering stories that will help communicate the fantastic work that ACPIR is doing in Fiji." 

Dr Christine Rogers, UniSC Lecturer, Screen Media Production
Associate Member, Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research.