[2] Since December 2001, he held the official position of Roving Ambassador[1] and High Commissioner,[3] representing Fiji's interests in Pacific Island nations.
In 1987, he was appointed Fiji's Chief Administrative Officer for Foreign Affairs, and in 1991 he became Chargé d'affaires at the Fijian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
On 13 August 2005, Foreign Minister Kaliopate Tavola said that Mara was being considered as a possible successor to Ratu Tevita Momoedonu as Ambassador to Japan.
[6] The offer was eventually withdrawn with the government citing Mara's inability to meet a deadline due to protracted personal affairs.
[11] As of July 2005, there was still no public announcement as to whether Mara had accepted the invitation to become the Tui Nayau, but his elder sister, Adi Ateca Ganilau, said that discussions between the family and the mataqali (clan) were ongoing.
[12] In July 2006 Mara was endorsed by the Vuanirewa clan to succeed his late father as Tui Nayau, or Paramount Chief of Lau.