Niue Language Week will be celebrated across New Zealand from Sunday 19 October to Saturday 25 October 2025.
This year’s Niue Language Week theme, Fakatapunu, Ofania mo e Fakaaoga e Vagahau Niue – Elevate, cherish and use Vagahau Niue, is a heartfelt call to action for all New Zealanders to honour the language as a living taoga (treasure) and vital link to cultural identity.
Secretary for Pacific Peoples Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone says the week shines a light on the strength and creativity of Niue communities across Aotearoa New Zealand, and the importance of keeping their language alive for the future.
“With Vagahau Niue listed by UNESCO as an endangered language, every speaker and learner matters. Each conversation, each song, each word spoken helps strengthen the heartbeat of the Niue community. Vagahau Niue needs to be preserved and lived. You hear it in the voices of children learning their first songs, in the warmth of family gatherings, and in the rhythm of Niue celebrations,” says Gerardine.
For Chairperson of the Vagahau Niue Trust, Carissa Posimani McCay, speaking the Niue language is both a joy and a responsibility.
“When I hear our young people using Vagahau Niue, even just a few words – it fills me with pride. It’s how we pass on our aga fakamotu, our way of being Niuean,” says Carissa.
“When I speak Vagahau Niue, I feel grounded - it’s who I am. It’s the language of our elders and our stories. Living in Aotearoa, we celebrate our identity through everyday acts – sharing takihi (traditional food), performing hifiulu (ceremonial dance) at weddings, or simply living by tagata Niue values. These are the ways we keep our culture alive,” says Carissa.
This year’s Language Week coincides with Niue’s Constitution celebrations in October, adding extra significance to the week. With over 25,000 tagata Niue living in New Zealand – the largest population in the world – the week is a powerful reminder of the importance of language in maintaining cultural connection across generations.
Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue is a time to come together, learn, celebrate and elevate Vagahau Niue. Follow the NZ Niue Language Week Facebook page for events, language resources, and stories from the community.