Listening to One Another
Sharing Struggles and Joy as Rural Churches in Oceania
- Matthew 11:15 Let anyone with ears listen!
- Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
IRCA Oceania gathered at Namoli Village, Fiji from Monday 26 May to Friday 30 May 2025
We were warmly hosted by
Namoli Methodist Church
Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma
staying in the Namoli Village and surrounding area.
Namoli is a traditional village, which gifted surrounding land for the development of Lautoka city. The village retains its traditions and strong family/community connections.
Veitalanoa
The programme focused on Veitalanoa – hearing stories from around the region. Contributions will include from people working with, and those directly impacted by, issues like Climate Change, Self-determination, Seasonal Workers to Australia and New Zealand, the incursion into Fiji of international drug cartels, modern day slavery, and safety and well-being of women and families.
Monday
Traditional Welcome
The kava ceremony saw us gathered around on the mat with Kuli speaking on our behalf and Robyn and Kuli receiving kava from the first bowl. A second bowl was offered to all who wished to partake.
Welcome Dinner
Welcome Lotu (Worship)
Tuesday
Morning Lotu
led by Revd Savirio Vuata, Superintendent of the Namoli Division, Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma
Keynote Speaker: Overview of Talanoa Topics
Revd Sepiuta Hala’apiapi, General Secretary of the Fiji Council of Churches and Deputy Moderator of the Pacific Conference of Churches. Click here for her address. 2025 PCC Church Leaders’ Meeting Outcome Statement here
Seasonal Worker Schemes
Introductory Perspectives
- Revd Tavake Manu, Tonga and Aotearoa
- Revd Albea Nasila, Vanuatu
Drugs and Cartels
Introductory Perspectives
Self-determination/Manu motuhake
Janie Te Aowhiua Ingram and Tuhi Taoho sharing Tūhoetanga
Aboriginal Mission Stories
Uncle Jack Harradine sharing stories of his work with wife Lil among their people in South Australia
Wednesday
Morning Lotu
Led by Elder Richard Simeon, Vanuatu
Keynote Speaker: Youth With A Mission
Seria Vinakadina, Youth with a Mission Fiji
Check out what we recorded here
Seria is from an island in the Lau group – this is her identity. She comes from a tribe of warriors on the island. She is a warrior for the well-being of people, young people in particular, and a leader in guiding others in the tasks YWAM undertakes in Fiji.
Climate Change
Introductory Perspective from Hawkes Bay, NZ, farmer Jim Spall
The project Jim Spall spoke about in his talanoa perspective – Bridging Hawkes Bay. This video was presented by Rev Jill McDonald in a IRCA Oceania Network ZOOM in September 2023
Overview from Rev Dr Cliff Bird, Solomon Islands and Australia
King Tides in South Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati, February 21st 2019 at 17:00 Hours
Migration/Modern Day Slavery
Safety/Well-being of Women and Children
Introductory Perspectives
Elder Martha Kaluatman, Vanuatu, and Manasa Vatanitawake, Fiji
Reflection and IRCA Oceania “Looking to the Future”
On Wednesday evening we spent time reflecting in country groups on what we had been sharing in talanoa over the two days.
We also looked to the future, with ideas of what is valuable in being a Network together and identifying volunteers to form an ongoing working group.
- Martin Harrison, Aotearoa
- Selai Maopa Thomas, Fiji
- Gloria Naduva Ravunakaidere, Fiji
- Anni Ravualala, Fiji
- David Shrimpton, Australia
- Richard Simeon, Vanuatu
- Tuhi Taoho, Aotearoa
- Myrah Topo, Solomon Islands
- Wessley Manasa Vatanitawake, Fiji
- Talisa Whippy Waqabaca, Fiji
- and
- Robyn McPhail, Aotearoa and IRCA Leadership Team, as encourager and facilitator
Plans for IRCA’s international conference in Sibiu, Romania in July 2026 were shared, with the intention that there will be a strong Oceania presence at that conference.
Presentations to Manasa Vatanitawake and Robyn McPhail
Thursday
Morning Lotu
Led by Pastor Myrah Topo, Solomon Islands
Out and about to Ba
Visit to Votua Village, where we were welcomed by the elders of the church and heard the story from the people about their troubling experience with a sand mining company.
Click on the image or here to listen to Manasa’s translation of their words.
Visit to Veilomani Boys Home – story by Christina Morunga
Evening Lotu
Led by Rev Basulu Seniceva, Fiji and Aotearoa
Traditional Gifting and Farewell
The gifting followed traditional protocols with kerosine, rice, flour, sugar, oil, and rolls of fabric brought in by the able bodied men and women of the group. Revd Basulu Seniceva presented a whale’s tooth on our behalf and the hosts responded, with kava for our Robyn and Basulu and a tabua (whale’s tooth) gifted in return. This was a big surprise and a significant honour.
For more on the significance of this exchange, click here.
Namoli Village Farewell Song
Conference Planning Team
- Wessley MANASA VATANITAWAKE, Fiji (Methodist Church in Fiji)
- Rev Dr Robyn MCPHAIL, New Zealand
- Ms Linda COWAN, New Zealand
- Rev Graeme LIERSCH, Australia
- Team assisting Wessley Manasa VATANITAWAKE:
- Ms Makereta TAOI, Methodist Church in Fiji Connexional Office representative
- Ms Ani TOKALAULEVU RAVUALALA, Fiji Council of Churches
- Rev James BHAGWAN, Pacific Conference of Churches representative
