(Picture caption: This year’s Pacific Language Weeks series, featuring 11 Pacific languages, gets underway in May.)
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Hon Dr Shane Reti.
Minister Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to Auckland Pasifika Festival and says there is so much to acknowledge.
“After being immersed in the languages of Tonga, Cook Islands, and Samoa during my recent visits to our partners in the Pacific, and being here amongst the excitement of Pasifika today, I’m delighted to confirm this year’s dates,” Minister Reti says.
"Pacific languages play an important role in strengthening a sense of identity and belonging among Pacific people.
“This, in turn, increases confidence and people’s achievement in education and employment."
"The Pacific Languages Strategy makes strong links between language skills and people’s economic outlook, and their ability to make strong contributions to New Zealand."
Running from May until November 2024, the 11 Pacific Language Weeks focus on Rotuma, Samoa, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Fiji, Niue, Tokelau, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.
Minister Reti encourages everyone to get involved in the Pacific Language Week celebrations.
“They are a great way to embrace the diversity of New Zealand communities.”
This year’s schedule for the Pacific Language Weeks series has been decided after close collaboration with communities, with many of the weeks aligning with significant national days for each of the Pacific countries.
For the first time this year, the series officially celebrates two new languages: Solomon Islands Pidgin and Papua New Guinea Tok Pisin.
This decision reflects the passion of New Zealand’s Melanesian communities to share and celebrate their culture.
Pacific Language Weeks 2024
Visit the MPP website for more information and language resources.