Ministry of Foreign Affairs pays final respect to the late Ambassador Filimone Kau

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday paid its final respect to the late Ambassador Filimone Kau, a seasoned diplomat and highly respected career civil servant. The government delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr Raijeli Taga and the Acting Permanent Secretary for Civil Service Mr. Amena Yauvoli.

On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka, the delegation presented its i-reguregu, offering heartfelt condolences and prayers to Mr Kau’s family, at a solemn ceremony held at his residence in Nasinu. Also conveyed were the messages of sympathy from colleagues serving at Fiji’s diplomatic Missions abroad.

The Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Mr Esala Nayasi, Commissioner Western Mr. Apolosi Lewaqai and Ambassador Solo Mara were also part of the delegation.

Mr Kau is remembered for his exceptional contributions to the development of Fiji’s foreign service and diplomacy. During his term with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kau laid the foundations for the Ministry’s progress on its journey towards Service Excellence in 2014. He was admired for his dedication to service, his perseverance and hard work.

In 2012, he was appointed as Fiji’s resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Korea with accreditation to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Prior to this, he also served as Fiji’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Mr Kau began his career as an Information Officer at the Ministry of Information, then rising to the rank of Principal Information Officer by 1997.
During his term in public service, Mr Kau had also served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, Deputy Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister overseeing the Strategic Framework for Change Coordinating Office, Director of Information, Head of Public Relations and Media team of the Technical and Support Secretariat (TASS) of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF).

Mr Kau was part of Fiji’s negotiating team in Zambia that secured funding for the Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Management Investment Program from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), valued at US$31million.

Fiji was the first country in the Pacific to receive this grant in 2015 which benefitted more than a third of Fiji’s population. Similarly, as Fiji’s Ambassador to Korea, he oversaw the establishment of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Pacific Regional Office in Suva where the current Regional Director is Mr. Sakiusa Tuisolia. The GGGI Headquarters is based in Seoul.

Mr Kau, originally from Nabavatu, Macuata was the youngest of 8 siblings.
He passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday 1st June 2025. He is survived by his wife Selai and five children. He will be laid to rest today at the Logani Bethel AOG in Tailevu.