- Rakiraki District, Fiji
Rakiraki is a
district inFiji 's Ra Province. It is located about halfway betweenSuva andNadi when travelling along the Kings Road, on the northern coast ofViti Levu , Fiji's largest island.At the 1996 census, the Rakiraki district had a population of 29,137, with 15,325 in the smaller Rakiraki sub-district. Of these, 3361 lived in
Vaileka , Rakiraki's principal urban centre. TheFiji Times reported on4 October 2006 thatUraia Waqa , Chairman of theRakiraki Local Government Authority , had called for Vaileka to be officially incorporated as a Town in order to attract government investment. Local Government and Urban Development MinisterChaitanya Lakshman was reported to be sympathetic to the proposal. The Vaileka Area would be known as Rakiraki Town.Rakiraki is an area often said to portray Fijian patriotism. Many noted Fijian politicians have originated from this area, such as
Sidiq Koya , who fought for Fijian workers' rights.Examples of towns and villages in RakiRaki areVunikavakaloa , Vaymidia and Basese Koro.Landmarks
Prominent landmarks include
Navatu Rock , inVitawa village, believed one of Fiji's oldest human settlements. Pottery excavated at the base of the rock has been dated to around 1000BC.About 1.5 kilometers offshore lies the island of
Nananu-i-Ra . Fijian mythology holds that this island is the disembodied spirits' point of departure from this world to the afterlife. A village once crowned the peak of this island.The tomb of Ratu Udre Udre, a famous Nineteenth Century
cannibal chief who reportedly consumed more than 800 of his victims, is close to the township of Vaileka.Economic activities
Agriculture andtourism are the mainstays of the Rakiraki economy. TheFiji Sugar Corporation operates the Penang Sugar Mill on thePenang River , one kilometer north-east of Vaileka.Sugar cane is grown in the valleys, whilecattle are raised in the highlands. Root crops, including yagona (kava) are also cultivated.
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