Naitasiri - Geography and Infrastructure

Geography and Infrastructure

Naitasiri covers an area of 1,666 square kilometers (643.25 Square Miles), and occupies the area mostly to the north of Suva, the capital. Its boundaries stretches across Viti Levu, in a SE-NW direction from Laucala Bay on the Suva Peninsula to beneath Mt Tomanivi, Fiji's highest mountain on the Nadrau Plateau(as coined in the vernacular, " Mai na toba ko Laucala ki na ruku i Tomanivi"). Its population at the last census in 2007 was 160,759, making Naitasiri the country's second most populous province after Ba. Its main urban area is the burgeoning town of Nasinu, with a population of 87,446 at the 2007 census. Nasinu town include the surburbs of Waila, Makoi,Nasinu,Kalabu,Tovata, Kinoya,Laqere,Nadera,Nepani,Nadawa,Valelevu,Nakasi,Naulu and Naveiwakau. Newer Suburbs of Suva City, such as Samabula North,Tamavua,Namadi,Tacirua,Wailoku,Cunningham and Khalsa sits within Naitasiri. Suva city CBD and its older surburbs lay in the adjoining Rewa Province. Naitasiri natural resources includes the Medrausucu mountain ranges, vast indigenous forests,five river systems and fertile agricultural land. The Monasavu Hydro-electric dam sits astride its Wainimala headwaters and Nadrau plateau.

Prior to roads being built,the five rivers that flow through the province, the Wainibuka,Wainimala,Waidina,Waimanu and the Rewa were the main avenues of travel and communications.Hence many villages in the province were situated along rivers. Public infrastructure works since the 1960s,1990s and 2000s includes the Sawani-Serea road,the Naqali-Namosi road, a new bridge and hospital at Vunidawa,roadworks and sealing of the main Sawani to Naqali road and other bridge constructions at Navuso across the Waimanu River and Naqali across the Waidina River. The Suva to Monasavu road opened much of the Wainimala hinterland in the late 1970s. The construction of the Vunidawa bridge has also opened up the Matailobau District hinterland since 2000.