Tui Nayau

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Nobility of Fiji

Titles Adi - Bulou - Ro - Ratu Institutions Great Council of Chiefs Chairman, Great Council of Chiefs House of Chiefs Confederacies: Burebasaga - Kubuna - Tovata

Tui Nayau is the title held by the Paramount Chief of the Lau Islands in Fiji and is synonymous with the title holders over lordship of these islands. When translated Tui Nayau means Lord of Nayau, an island north of Lakeba, the latter being the chief island in the Lauan archipelago. Prior to being installed as Tui Nayau, the claimant must first be installed as High Chief upon the decision of the noble households making up the Vuanirewa clan. Not every High Chief has been installed as Tui Nayau: several have not held office long enough. The last Tui Nayau was Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who died in 2004. His son, Ratu Finau Mara, is considered a likely successor; he has been invited by elders from the village of Tubou (the seat of the chiefdom) to assume the office, but to date there has been no word as to whether or not he has accepted the invitation. On 3 November 2005, spokesman Solomoni Makasiale said that all nominations would have to be considered, and that the process could take years. He added that as Ratu Mara held two separate titles (the other being Tui Lau) that could be held by different individuals, the process would take longer.

When the Tui Nayau is traditionally installed, his wife or in the past his senior wife was likewise installed with him and bore the title Radini Nayau or Lady of Nayau. The last Radini Nayau was the Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Lady Lala Mara, wife of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

[edit] Tui Nayau/Sau Ni Vanua Ko Lau

The table below lists the individuals who have held the title of Roko Sau. If the Roko Sau was subsequently installed as Tui Nayau, his order as holder of that title is indicated in parenthesis in the order column, and the background is highlighted.

'Order	'	Reigned	Lived	Notes
1.	Niumataiwalu	...	...	Not installed as Tui Nayau.
2.	Uluilakeba I	...	...	Son of Niumataiwalu; not installed as Tui Nayau.
3. (1)	Rasolo	...	...	Son of Niumataiwalu I; first Tui Nayau.
4.	Matawalu	...	...	Son of Niumatawalu; not installed as Tui Nayau.
5.	Dranivia	...	...	Son of Uluilakeba I; not installed as Tui Nayau.
6.	Lubati	...	...	Son of Niumatawalu; not installed as Tui Nayau.
7. (2)	Malani	17??-1833	17??-1833	Son of Rasolo.
8. (3)	Taliai Tupou	1833-1875	17??-1875	Son of Rasolo .
9.	Tevita Uluilakeba II	1875-1876	18??-1876	Son of Vuetasau, son of Malani; not installed as Tui Nayau.
10. (4)	Eroni Loganimoce	1876-1898	18??-1898	Son of Taliai Tupou.
11. (5)	Alifereti Finau Ulugalala	1898-1934	18??-1934	Son of Uluilakeba II.
12. (6)	Tevita Uluilakeba III	1934-1966	1898-1966	Son of Alifereti Finau Ulugalala.
13. (7)	Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara	1969-2004	1920-2004	Son of Tevita Uluilakeba III.