Batiki Explained

Batiki
Settlement Type:Island
Pushpin Map:Fiji
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Fiji
Coordinates:-17.7833°N 188°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Fiji
Subdivision Type1:Island group
Subdivision Name1:Lomaiviti Islands
Subdivision Type2:Division
Subdivision Name2:Eastern Division
Subdivision Type3:Province
Subdivision Name3:Lomaiviti
Subdivision Type4:District
Subdivision Name4:Batiki
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:12
Elevation Max Footnotes:[1]
Elevation Max M:186
Population Total:300
Population Density Km2:auto

Batiki (in Fijian pronounced as /ᵐbaˈtʃiki/, also known as Mbatiki in English)[1] is an island of Fiji belonging to the Lomaiviti Archipelago. The island is of volcanic origin,[2] with a land area of about 12 square kilometers. To the north-east is Wakaya Island, to the east is Nairai, and to the south-east is Gau.

Batiki's population of approximately 300 Fijians lives in coastal villages.[3] The economic activity of the island consists of farming and fishing.

There are four villages on the island: Manuku, Mua, Naigani, and Yavu.[3] Mua village is home to the residence of the chief, island pastor, the health clinic center, a single flat-primary school building with a boarding facility and playground.

Geography

The presence of nests of the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle has been recorded on the island.[4]

History

The island was devastated by Cyclone Winston in 2016, with Naigani village being affected the most.[3] [5] The high chief of Batiki since January 2012, Torau Ni Bau Ratu Inoke Tuidelaibatiki Virivirilau, died on 4 February 2017.[6]

Demographics

Batiki had a population of 324 people as of the 1966 census,[7] and 483 as of the 2007 census.[8]

Economy

The main source of income is from copra, pandanus (Fijian: voivoi), small-scale farming, and fishing, with fish being sold to the markets in Suva.[9] There is a sea cucumber fishery, which mainly involves male youths. By 1987 a commercial seaweed farm was established on Batiki.[10] As of 2009 there were 42 farms on Batiki, with a total area of 13 hectares.[11]

Another important source of income for the locals is the Bula Batiki coconut oil firm, whose products are made from the island's bountiful coconut palms.[9] [12] [13] This business was started in 2015 by a British man named Callum Drummond, known as Kelevi by the islanders, when he won a grant from Cardiff University for the project.[14] The two other co-founders are Ellis Williams and Tim McKee.[9] In 2020 a coconut oil processing plant designed by CAUKIN Studio was built at Yavu village.[15] [16]

Infrastructure

There is a primary school on the island,[9] Manuku District School, with 71 students as of 2016[5] and 4 teachers.[17] There is also a nursing station at Mua village staffed by a registered nurse.[17] [9] [15] [18] Critical cases are referred either to Qarani Health Centre or Levuka Hospital. The nursing station opening hours are from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm on a daily basis, but it is also on standby after hours in case of emergencies.

The island has no airport or roads, so most transport is by local cargo vessels, small fibreglass boats, or via a shipping franchise that services the Lomaiviti archipelago on a monthly basis.[17] [9]

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Book: Pub. 126 Sailing Directions (Enroute) Pacific Islands . 2017 . . Springfield, Virginia . 89 . 12 . 24 July 2023.
  2. Book: Bayliss-Smith . Tim . Islands, Islanders and the World: The colonial and post-colonial experience of eastern Fiji . 1988 . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge . 9780521268776.
  3. Web site: Batiki Island Rebuilding Projects . Sea Mercy . 6 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205111745/http://www.seamercy.org/Batiki . 5 December 2022 . 17 May 2016 . dead.
  4. Book: Fretey . Jacques . Triplet . Patrick . Zarrouki . Hanane . Ramsar sites and marine turtles: an overview . June 2021 . 7 July 2023.
  5. Web site: Kumar . Ronald . Wiped Out . . 6 July 2023 . 24 February 2016.
  6. Web site: Luvenitoga . Jone . Batiki High Chief Dies, Aged 74 . . 6 July 2023 . 7 February 2017.
  7. Book: . Population, resources and development in the eastern islands of Fiji: information for decision-making . 1977 . Canberra, Australia . 13 .
  8. Web site: Fiji: TC Winston - 21 Feb 2016 . 7 July 2023.
  9. Web site: Martin . Rachel . Coconut oil firm's Northern Ireland founder hopes to help islanders on other side of globe to prosper . . 6 July 2023 . 21 February 2017.
  10. Web site: Richards . Andrew H. . Fiji Fisheries Resources Profiles . . 216 . 1994.
  11. Web site: Fiji National Agricultural Census 2009 . Department of Agriculture . 6 July 2023 . Suva, Fiji . 42.
  12. Web site: Kate . Talebula . In a nutshell . . 6 July 2023 . 16 February 2017.
  13. Web site: Madigibuli . Ana . Business on a remote island . . 6 July 2023 . 26 August 2018.
  14. Web site: Madigibuli . Ana . Home away from home . . 6 July 2023 . 29 August 2018.
  15. Web site: Sovasiga . Kelera . PM Opens Batiki's Virgin Coconut Oil Factory . . 6 July 2023 . 11 September 2020.
  16. Web site: Barandy . Kat . Fiji island community works with CAUKIN studio to build coconut oil processing plant . Designboom architecture & design magazine . 6 July 2023 . 18 May 2020.
  17. Web site: Lalavanua . Watisoni . Tuinasavusavu . Ilisoni . Seru . Peni . The status of the sea cucumber fishery in Batiki District, Lomaiviti, Fiji . . 6 July 2023 . May 2014.
  18. Web site: Health Facility Readiness and Service Availability (HFRSA) Assessment . . 7 July 2023 . March 2020.