'In the immediate aftermath of the extremely destructive Tropical Cyclone Winston, miraculous healing water was discovered flowing on land belonging to Naboro mataqali in close proximity to Natadradave and Delakado villages in Dawasamu, Tailevu. This discovery led to the arrival of thousands of people from all over Fiji and beyond at a time when the villagers of Dawasamu, Tailevu were themselves recovering from the catastrophic cyclone. A year on, visitors albeit in smaller numbers continue to bath in, drink and take away the healing water.

The working paper reports on the research project and its findings on why the indigenous Fijian villagers (peasants) eschewed the unique opportunity for windfall cash income from the sale of the miracle water at a time of unprecedented hardship. This too, in the context of a lucrative bottled water industry in the country.