I-Taukei land cannot be deposited in the Land Bank without the consent of 60% of a landowning unit.

This process has been made clear by Director of the Land Use Unit Samuela Naicegucegu.

Naicegucegu also said that more than $4 million has been paid to 64 i-Taukei land owing units who have deposited their land into the Land Bank.

He said the landowners will receive 100% of the total lease payments and the lease is being issued at market rates. 

There is no poundage fees charged for land deposited with the Land Bank and all the lease payments go to the landowners. 

Naicegucegu said a total of more than 14,000 acres of land has been deposited by the landowning units since 2011.

He said out of the 64 landowning units, 32 leases have been issued with a total of 5,269 acres which is 2.1% of the total i-Taukei land.

Naicegucegu said they are still processing other leases and looking for ways to help landowners by identifying investors.

He stresses the i-Taukei landowning units remain the owners of i-Taukei land.

87% of the land in Fiji is Itaukei land, 4% is owned by the state and 7% is freehold land.

The Land Use Decree states that the objects of the decree are to utilise designated i-Taukei land in a manner that is in the best interest of i-Taukei landowners and to utilise designated crown land with a view to achieving optimal return to the state.