(Picture caption: Celebrate Macawa ni Vosa Vakaviti – Fijian Language Week this week with the vibrant Fijian community of Aotearoa. Visit the MPP website for useful information and resources.)
A united approach to Macawa ni Vosa Vakaviti – Fijian Language Week will ensure Vosa Vakaviti is taught and spoken more across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Minister for Pacific Peoples Hon Barbara Edmonds says as a diaspora population, our Pacific languages, cultures and identities are more important than ever before.
“For this year’s Fijian Language Week, we’re celebrating the theme of Me vakabulabulataki, vakamareqeti, ka vakaqaqacotaki na vosa Vakaviti, which translates to Nurture, Preserve and Sustain the Fijian language,” Minister Edmonds says.
“The approach taken for the 2023 Macawa ni Vosa Vakaviti aligns with initiatives with the National Fijian Wellbeing Plan – the product of collaboration between Fijian community leaders and the Ministry of Social Development.
“Fijian communities from around the country have collaborated to plan the week which will involve learning through music, health, and wellbeing - it will also see resources created to support long term language planning.”
Statistics New Zealand data indicates that over 19,700 people in New Zealand identity as Fijian, with 24 percent speakers of their language.
While 87 percent of Fijians born overseas can speak Vosa Vokaviti, only 11 percent of those born in New Zealand can.
Minister Edmonds adds each year we see more regionally based Fijian communities getting involved with Fijian Language Week, which is hugely empowering to the RSE workers and Fijian families settled in the regions.
“We know this is particularly important after the impact extreme weather events has had on the wellbeing of our Pacific communities in affected areas.
“Our role as a community is to unite in nurturing our language through creating environments where Vosa Vakaviti is used by more people and in more spaces.
“This year’s Fijian Language Week takes place during the school term, so I hope we will see lots of students and schools involved, as the future of this language lies with the next generation,” Minister Edmonds says.
Macawa ni Vosa Vakaviti - Fijian Language Week 2023 runs from October 8 – 14.
Visit the MPP website for more information and resources.