Nurak v Iauwinaum [2025] VUIC 17; Custom Declaration Case 3251 of 2024 (10 November 2025)

IN THE TANNA OUTER ISLAND’S ISLAND COURT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
------------------------------------------------ Civil Case No. 24/3251 IC/DCLR
(Customary Jurisdiction)

IN THE MATTER OF: APPLICATION FOR DECLARATION OF NAME NURAK KAIOTUAN

BETWEEN: KAIOTUAN NURAK
Claimant

AND: FAMILY IAUWINAUM
1^st Defendant

AND: FAMILU PUULL
2^nd Defendant


Jastices: Sam Naieu Clerk: Joel Jacob
Elvina Joseph
Benjamin Kuau Date of Decision: 12^thNovember 2025

Venue: Isangel court house

MATTER: DECLARATION OF NAME NURAK KAIOTUAN.

JUDGMENT

Kleim we istap bifo long kot hemi from nem ia Nurak Kaiotuan. Claimant hemi se hem nao I onem nem ia Nurak Kaiotuan insaet lo Launakik nakamal. From risen ia, hemi stap askem lo kot ia blo declarem nem ia iko lo hem. Kot hemi arem keis ia lo 11^th November 2025 mo tete kot hemi kam blo kivimaout decision blo hem.

Kot I bin grantem application blong family PUUL mo strikem off mo I allowem hem blong I presentem hem olsem wan witness blong family IAUWINUM APEN (defendant).

Issue: istru se nem ia Nurak Kaiotuan hemi blo Claimant?

Brief storian:
Claimant: Claimant NURAK KAIOTUAN (Charley Nurak) hemi statem se hem nao hemi ownem name ia NURAK KAIOTUAN folem blood line blong WASKAM. Hem I talem tu se hem I stap practisim Tupunus blo yam kalaka long Nakamal Iownakik long Bukia ne.

• Kot I bin strikem off 3 witness blong original claimant Poida, Lava Nimanian mo Etap.
• 1 witness blo original claimant Willy Iawis emi no bin present long kot.
  

Defendant.

Iauwnam emi talem se name ia Kaiotuan emi blong Iauwinum MISIWAIA mo hem I talem tu se name ia emi wan nawanangei. Hemi 2 difren nem. Hem nao I bin handem over Tupunus yam kalaka long Charlie Nurak mo hem I kam blong talem tu long kot ia se ino bin kat eni custom ceremony blong karem Charlie Nurak ikam. Defendant emi kam mo talem tu se name ia ielwalu mo nobangkalwateu ikam long midle bush. Ielwalu oli kam putum long ielwalu nakamal Bukia ne tribe.

1^st Witness: Chief Keles I talem long kot ia se I bin kat wan kastom ceremony blo karem Charly Nurak ikam.

2^nd Witness: Loughman Yam I talem long kot se Waskam I maretem Lava kawiawi mo tufala I kat pikinini after Lava Kawiawi I tet after hem I ko stap wetem Iolin tufala ino kat pikinini.

3^rd Witness: Johnny Wate emi talm long kot se Wate emi blong Bukia ne tribe.Hem I talem tu long Kot se hem ino save who nao tati blong Iauwinum.

After lo every storian mo ol assessment we kot ia hemi mekem, hemia nao hemi findings blo kot akensem issue we istap;

1. Nurak Kaiotuan hemi 2 difren nems (1, Nurak, 2 Kaiotuan)
2. Nurak ikat existing blad.
3. Nem ia Kaiotuan hemi wan Noanage (kastom story).
4. Tufala parties istap tokbaot Kaiotuan we hemi jes wan kastom story nomo, hemi no real.

After lo ol findings ia, hemia nao hemi order blo kot:

1. Kot ino save declerem nem ia Nurak Kaiotuan lo anywan.
2. Kot hemi referem Issue blo nem ia “Nurak”, ikobak lo Lenamir supreme nakamal blo mas deal wetem within 30 days.
3. Sipos supreme nakamal isingaotem tufala parties, oli mas turn up lo kot.
4. Bae peace imas stap oltaem lo tuketa parties kasem taem we issue ia hemi solve.