Mataqali Nailega essentially thrives in the village. Here you will find most of our elders (qase) and those families and individuals that have opted to carry on with the age old tradition of farming the land (vakayagataki qele), raising livestock (susu manumanu) and attending to the needs and wants of the vanua (cola vanua).

 

Once reknowned for its "mini hydro electric power plant", sweet serenading musical group "The Deep River Boys" and popularity as a tourist destination, Vatukarasa is now but a shadow of its former self.

 

The building of the primary school, residence for the Methodist circuit minister and recent efforts to renovate and extend the aging village church have gone some way into bringing back a small part of that fame - and Mataqali Nailega descendants are, and intends to keep, playing a key role in this revival.

 

Here are but a few of those that have remained ...