Climate Change Resilience
The history of the Fiji Meteorological Service dates back to the establishment of the weather office at Laucala Bay to support New Zealand military forces stationed there during World War II. Prior to this, weather observations, principally temperature and rainfall, had been gathered at key locations around the country involved in agriculture, and in the capital.
Following World War II, New Zealand established the Meteorological Office in Nadi (pictured left) to support the growing civilian aviation programme there as the flying boat facility at Laucala Bay gradually phased out. With independence in 1970, the meteorological service office in Nadi was slowly transferred from New Zealand management to local management, and the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) was born.
Today FMS remains a department within the ministry of Public Utilities, Works and Transport. While the headquarters remains in Nadi, staffs are located around the country gathering data in Suva as well as remote and island locations as far distant as Rotuma and Ono. Their primary tasks are to manage the national database of climate information and provide weather forecasts and warnings for the public as well as aviation and marine transport sectors.
As part of the overall Public Sector Reform process, the Government of Fiji has initiated a review of the Department of Fiji Meteorological Services commencing from the 14 May and will conclude on the 18 June 2012.
The review is carried out by Na Draki (Fiji) Limited, in partnership with independent consultants Mr. Atu Kaloumaira and Mr. Bikenibeu Paeniu of Fiji and Tuvalu respectively.
Pictured: The consultants. Left Mr. Bikenibeu Paeniu, right Mr. Atu Kaloumaira, together with SPREP Meteorology and Climate Adviser Neville Koop (centre)
The review process will consider past revisions as well as looking at present and future needs for weather and climate services, and provide the Fiji Government with recommendations for an optimal organisational structural path for the dual provisions of weather and climate services in Fiji into the future. This review will also consider FMS's current regional responsibilities, and will incorporate the views of all stakeholders both locally and around the region.
Small island states such as Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Kiribati are dependent on the Fiji Meteorological Services for many of the basic meteorological services such as aviation forecasts and warnings, forecasts for shipping using high seas surrounding their islands, as well as general public forecasts for daily use. These services have been provided free to these countries for many decades; however increasing demands for services within Fiji are placing pressure on their future existence.
For more information, contact SPREP Meteorology and Climate Adviser Mr. Neville Koop at [email protected]
Today FMS remains a department within the ministry of Public Utilities, Works and Transport. While the headquarters remains in Nadi, staffs are located around the country gathering data in Suva as well as remote and island locations as far distant as Rotuma and Ono. Their primary tasks are to manage the national database of climate information and provide weather forecasts and warnings for the public as well as aviation and marine transport sectors.
As part of the overall Public Sector Reform process, the Government of Fiji has initiated a review of the Department of Fiji Meteorological Services commencing from the 14 May and will conclude on the 18 June 2012.
The review is carried out by Na Draki (Fiji) Limited, in partnership with independent consultants Mr. Atu Kaloumaira and Mr. Bikenibeu Paeniu of Fiji and Tuvalu respectively.
Pictured: The consultants. Left Mr. Bikenibeu Paeniu, right Mr. Atu Kaloumaira, together with SPREP Meteorology and Climate Adviser Neville Koop (centre)The review process will consider past revisions as well as looking at present and future needs for weather and climate services, and provide the Fiji Government with recommendations for an optimal organisational structural path for the dual provisions of weather and climate services in Fiji into the future. This review will also consider FMS's current regional responsibilities, and will incorporate the views of all stakeholders both locally and around the region.
Small island states such as Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Kiribati are dependent on the Fiji Meteorological Services for many of the basic meteorological services such as aviation forecasts and warnings, forecasts for shipping using high seas surrounding their islands, as well as general public forecasts for daily use. These services have been provided free to these countries for many decades; however increasing demands for services within Fiji are placing pressure on their future existence.
For more information, contact SPREP Meteorology and Climate Adviser Mr. Neville Koop at [email protected]