The Tongan community in New Zealand is preparing to celebrate Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga – Tonga Language Week, which runs from Sunday 18 August to Saturday 24 August 2024.
This year we revisit the theme, 'E tu'uloa 'a e Lea faka-Tongá 'o ka lea’aki 'i 'api, siasi (lotú), mo e nofo-'a-kāingá, which translates to ‘the Tongan Language will be sustainable if used at home, church, and in the wider community’.
Chosen by the community, the theme highlights the importance of using lea faka-Tonga in every facet of our lives - reminding us that to understand the language, we must actively use it. When we speak our language with pride, we strengthen our Tongan identity.
The word ‘tu’uloa’ in this theme conveys a sense of continuous growth, nurturing, and the enduring preservation of treasured ideas, practices, events, or memories. This reinforces the ongoing need to sustain and promote lea faka-Tonga in all spaces.
Secretary for Pacific Peoples Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone says the Ministry for Pacific Peoples is once again proud to support the Tongan community in their efforts to preserve their language and culture.
“The Tongan community in New Zealand has grown significantly making Tongans the fastest-growing Pacific ethnic group in New Zealand, with 40% of Tongans in New Zealand (approx. 33,000 speakers) who can speak lea faka-Tonga.
“This year’s theme encourages everyone in the Tongan community to embrace and use their language daily, ensuring it thrives in all areas of life,” says Gerardine.
In 2024, Tonga Language Week will see a range of activities planned, including conversational workshops, music, cooking, wellbeing, dance, arts and crafts, storytelling, and oratory. Many of these initiatives for young people emphasise the importance of passing cultural knowledge from elders to younger generations.
Visit the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ website for resources, including a language guide and information on events across the country. Follow the official Tonga Language Week Facebook page for updates and content throughout the week.
Media contact: Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Director Communications - Jaimee Burke at [email protected] or 0220114670