The refurbished Vale ni Bose, the iconic meeting house of Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), will be officially reopened tomorrow, nearly six years after it was destroyed by fire.
Presiding over the event will be the paramount chief of the Burebasaga Confederacy, Na Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa.
“This redevelopment is more than a physical transformation—it is the restoration of a space deeply rooted in the fabric of our identity as iTaukei and as Fijians,” GCC Chairman Ratu Viliame Seruvakula said.
The Vale ni Bose, long regarded as the sacred meeting place of Fiji’s chiefs, was destroyed by fire in 2019. Reconstruction was led by the iTaukei Trust Fund Board (TTFB), using approximately $6.5 million in insurance payouts to begin redevelopment works.
In keeping with tradition, the project began with the kerei ni yavalati ni yavu — a formal request to the Turaga na Tui Suva to rebuild on the sacred site — and included the renovation of the adjacent GCC Talanoa Lounge, which reopened in February.
Officials say the space will support not only GCC gatherings but also programs in leadership, cultural preservation, and intergenerational dialogue. As part of a broader vision, the complex is expected to evolve into a cultural and commercial hub over the coming years, with plans underway to adorn the facility with traditional artefacts from Fiji’s 14 provinces and Rotuma. The main chamber is expected to be fully completed with these cultural items by the Council’s next meeting.
“We reaffirm our commitment to supporting iTaukei institutions, safeguarding cultural heritage, and investing in spaces that promote unity, leadership, and development,” said a statement from the iTaukei Trust Fund Board.
Following the ceremonial reopening, attention will shift to the two-day closed-door GCC meeting scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
The meeting will be the first to be held at the newly redeveloped complex. The agenda is expected to include matters relating to iTaukei governance, land and resource stewardship, cultural revitalisation, the 2013 Constitution and the future role of the GCC in contemporary Fiji.
