(Picture caption: Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa - Samoa Language Week takes place from May 29-June 4. Visit the MPP website for more information and resources.)
Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa - Samoa Language Week will take on even more significance this year as the Pacific nation celebrates 60 years of independence.
While launching the second Pacific Language Week for 2022, Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says 2022 is the year of Samoa in the Pacific.
“Samoans are one of the fastest-growing populations in Aotearoa New Zealand, with the Samoan population representing 47.9 per cent of Pacific people in Aotearoa, making it the largest Pacific population,” Minister Sio says.
Gagana Samoa is the third most spoken language in Aotearoa – following English and Te Reo Māori - and the second most spoken language in Auckland – after English, however, its use is declining rapidly, he adds.
“However, if we have the right tools, we can definitely revitalise Gagana Samoa to keep it alive and thriving - I encourage you to take part in the many online language week activities, and to continue using Samoan words and phrases throughout the year.”
This year the theme of Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa – Samoa Language Week is, Fa’aauau le Folauga i le Va’a o Tautai, which translates in English to Continue the Voyage with Wayfinders of the Ocean.
This theme aligns with the Pacific Language Weeks overarching theme of sustainability, and the start of the UNESCO Decade of Indigenous Languages, which recognises the right to preserve, revitalise and promote languages, and linguistic diversity in sustainable development.
“UNESCO says at least 40 per cent of the 7,000 languages used worldwide are in danger of being lost,” Minister Sio says.
“My Ministry is working on the launch of the All-of-Government Pacific Language Strategy which outlines the Government’s commitment to ensuring Pacific languages and cultures thrive in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“We mustn’t forget Gagana Samoa and Samoa are so important to us.
“It is the only nation New Zealand has joined in a Treaty of Friendship and we’ll also be marking the 60th anniversary since that Treaty was signed August 1, 1962, following independence.
“That Treaty is about our mutual desire to gain social progress for Tagata Samoans and our language is critical in achieving this,” he says.
Visit the MPP website for Samoa Language Week information and resources, you can use throughout this week, and the year ahead.