Regional & Local Government
Geographically, Fiji has four divisions and one dependency. The four divisions consist of 14 provinces. Within the provinces are cities, towns and villages.
In an administrative sense Fiji has five distinctly parallel levels of sub-national government, none of which could be considered subjugate to another in their specific areas of concern: the four divisions run by divisional commissioners, Rotuma island council which administers the dependency, 14 provincial councils, numerous municipal councils and rural local authorities.
- Divisional commissioners implement governmental services and developmental activities mandated by central government.
- Rotuma Island Council has generally greater powers than other municipal councils.
- Provincial councils, headed by Roko Tui, the provinvial chief, have a specific remit to protect the land and organise the interests of indigenous Fijians only. The hierarchical structure of the provincial system is provincial councils followed by tinkina (sub-province) councils and then turaga ni-koro (village chieftains). Provincial councils are constituted and overseen by the iTaukei affairs section of Fijian central government.
- Municipal councils manage Fijian cities and towns; they are elected locally. Although they have devolved powers, they ultimately fall under the Ministry of Local Government.
- Rural local authorities manage areas outside the remit of provincial councils and municipal councils. They report to central government.
There are no constitutional provisions for devolved government in Fiji.
