Rotuma

Rotuma is a special administrative district ( dependency ) in addition to the four divisions of the Republic of Fiji.

Geography

The archipelago is located 646 km ( straight line from Suva to Ahau ) north of the actual Fiji. In addition to the eponymous main island of Rotuma, which is inhabited as only belong to some islands within the fringing reef of the main island (eg Solkope and Solnohu in the south), and a chain of islands five kilometers west of the main island from Uea in the Northeast over Hatana to HAF Liua extends to the southwest.

The main island is 13 km long and 4 km wide. It is divided by a low, only 230 meters wide isthmus into a larger eastern part, and in a smaller western peninsula. On the isthmus lies the village Motusa. North of this is Maka Bay, and south Hopmafau Bay. These bays are rich in coral reefs, through the boat passages.

The area is 46 km ² (of which the main island of 43 km ²).

Demography

The island is mainly inhabited by the Rotumanen, next of Fiji Islanders and Samoans. However, due to internal migration lives only a minority of Rotumanen on Rotuma, during 9984 on the real Fiji life ( 2007 census ).

According to the 2007 census had a population of Rotuma in 2002, of which 1953 Rotumanen. Since the mid- 1960s, the population has declined by statistical data by about a third.

Capital is Ahau. The official language is the Rotumanische.

Although Rotuma politically since 1881 belongs to Fiji, similar to the more Rotumanische culture of the Polynesian in the east, especially that of Tonga, Samoa, and Wallis and Futuna.

Traditional regional breakdown

Rotuma is divided into seven traditional autonomous districts, each of which a chief ( Gagaj it Ituu ) projects:

The district chiefs and the elected district representatives form the Island Council ( Iceland Rotuma Council). The districts are further divided into hoaga (groups of households ), the working groups under the guidance of a sub- chief ( gagaj it hoaga ) form and the sometimes the 30 villages meet.

History and Politics

As a European first discoverer applies Captain Edward Edwards of HMS Pandora, who sighted the island while searching for the mutineers of the Bounty in 1791. It only came to a brief contact with the wary and war- ready population, which ended in an exchange of gifts against provisions. 1881 Rotuma was annexed by the United Kingdom. As part of the independent island state of Fiji in 1970 acquired all the islands of Rotuma group their independence.

The islands are now geopolitically a special administrative district ( Dependency ) of Fiji. For statistical purposes, such as the Census, the Fiji Rotuma government treated as a part of the Eastern Division ( although the island is located in the far west ); However, Rotuma enjoys a certain internal autonomy.