Ioane Naivalurua

Major General Ioane Naivalurua (also known as Iowane Naivalurua) is a Fijian politician, police officer, civil servant, and the current Minister for Police.

Early life and education Naivalurua is from Suva and was educated at Marist Brothers Primary School, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and the Australian Defence College.

Military and civil service career Naivalurua has previously served as Land Force Commander in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. In February 2005 he promised that the army would never allow another coup in Fiji.

Following the 2006 Fijian coup d'état he was appointed Commissioner of Prisons by the military regime. In July 2007 he was promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General. Later that month, following a purge of SOE chairs, he was appointed as chairman of Post Fiji Limited. In 2010 he was appointed Commissioner of police. In January 2011 he was reappointed as police commissioner for a three-year term. His term expired in September 2013.

Diplomatic service In January 2014 he was appointed ambassador-at-large, and allowed to visit New Zealand, despite official sanctions against members of the military regime. In March 2014 he was promoted to Major General. In March 2015 he was appointed ambassador to China, replacing Esala Teleni.

In September 2017 he was appointed permanent secretary of foreign affairs. He resigned as permanent secretary and retired from public service in September 2019.

Political career Naivalurua stood as a FijiFirst candidate in the 2022 Fijian general election, and was elected to the Parliament of Fiji.

Following the collapse of FijiFirst he remained in Parliament as an independent MP as the leader of the opposition Group of 9 Bloc. On 10 January 2025, he was sworn as Minister of Police under Rabuka's government.

Civil society Naivalurua is president of Basketball Fiji. In August 2023 he was awarded the FIBA President's Award for 2023.