(Picture caption: Welcome to Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue – Niue Language Week 2023! Visit the MPP website for information about activities happening throughout the week, as well as useful language resources.)
Aotearoa New Zealand’s Niue community has expressed grave concerns for the preservation of Vagahau Niue and Niue culture as we head into Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue – Niue Language Week 2023.
Secretary for Pacific Peoples Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone says as a result, urgent actions are being put in place to help find ways to address these concerns.
“The Niue people have reached a crossroad where the status of the Vagahau Niue is considered most vulnerable,” Gerardine says.
“Vagahau Niue has been registered with UNESCO as an endangered language, and we face the challenge of trying to preserve Vagahau Niue and Niue culture.
“Losing the language and culture is a real worry for many Niue people and our leaders and community groups are working hard to explore, discuss and formulate strategies to ensure these treasures are protected and sustained for future generations.”
Most of the Niue population (95 percent) reside in Aotearoa according to the 2018 Census, and of those 30,867 people, 12 percent were found to be speaking Vagahau Niue - a decrease of 11 percent since the 2006 Census.
“Working closely with the community, Vagahau Niue Trust, Centre for Pacific Languages (CPL), Pacific Media Network (PMN) and PMN Niue are using Niue Language Week to emphasise the Niue peoples’ plight to ensure Vagahau Niue remains central to their wellbeing and identity,” Gerardine adds.
“This endeavour is also reflected in the theme, which is the same as last year, Fakatūleva e Vagahau Niue mo e Tau Aga Fakamotu ma e Tau Atuhau, translated in English to, Sustain Niue Language and Culture for Future Generations.
“From October 15-21, learning will take place through regional language and cultural workshops and events of expressive arts of poems, songs, story writing, arts and crafts, sports and food as well as speech competitions for young people.
“There will be opening and closing events held across the regions, and hosted by Vagahau Niue Trust branches, while events and community groups will also be showcased on the PMN Niue programme – I urge you all to get behind the Niue community in making sure this language and culture is treasured forever,” she says.
Communities can get involved through the MPP website and the NZ Niue Language Week Facebook page.
Fakaalofa lahi atu ke he Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue! Kumikumi atu ke he kupega hila MPP website ke moua falu a fakailoaaga ke he tau fakaholoaga ma e vahā tapu, pihia mo e falu a tau koloa ke lata mo e vagahau Niue.
Tau fakaholoaga ke taute fakamafiti ke puipui e Vagahau Niue mo e tau Aga Fakamotu
Kua tupetupe lahi e tau tagata Niue i Aotearoa ke he levekiaga he Vagahau Niue pihia mo e tau Aga Fakamotu ke he magaaho nai ne hahaga atu a tautolu ke he Faahi Tapu Vagahau Niue 2023.
Pehē mai e Tohi Kupu he Faahi Gahua ma e tau Tagata Pasifika ko Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone, kua fitā e falu a fakaholoaga taute fakamafiti ke lata ia mo e tau tupetupeaga ia.
“Kua hoko tuai ke he mafegahala hagahagakelea e tuaga he vagahau Niue,” he talahau e Gerardine.
“Kua tohia ai he UNESCO e talahauaga ne pehē kua tu hagahagakelea lahi e vagahau, mo e to nakai mukamuka ke puipui e Vagahau Niue mo e tau Aga Fakamotu.
“Kua tupetupe lahi e tau tagata Niue neke galo e vagahau mo e tau aga fakamotu, mo e kua gahua fakamalolō e tau takitaki mo e tau matakau kehekehe ke kumikumi e falu a tau puhala ke leveki e tau taoga nai ke lata mo e tau atuhau anoiha.”
Moua mai he Totou Puke Tagata he tau 2018, ko e laulahi he tau tagata Niue ne nonofo ki Aotearoa (95 e pasene), po ke 30, 867 e tau tagata Niue, 12 ni e pasene ia lautolu ne maeke ke vagahau Niue – kua to hifo 11 e pasene mai he Totou Puke Tagata he tau 2006.
“Kua fakaaoga ai he tau maaga kehekehe, Vagahau Niue Trust, Centre for Pacific Languages (CPL), Pacific Media Network (PMN) mo e PMN Niue e Faahi Tapu ma e Vagahau Niue ke fakailoa e uka mo e vihu he tau laliaga he tau tagata Niue ke fakatumau e Vagahau Niue ke eke ia mo koloa uho ke he ha lautolu a tau momoui,” he lalafi atu e Gerardine.
“Ko e tau laliaga nai kua liu fatiaki mai he Fakaveaga Manatu ma e Faahi Tapu Vagahau Niue 2023, Fakatūleva e Vagahau Niue mo e Tau Aga Fakamotu.
“Kamata mai he aho 15- 21 ia Oketopa, to ha hā i ai e tau fakaholoaga ke he tau maaga kehekehe tuga e tau fakaakoaga he vagahau Niue, totou he tau alaga tala kū, tau lologo, tohi tala totou, ta fakatino mo e talaga koloa, tau feua sipote, tunu kai pihia mo e tau fakamatala fetoko ma e tau fuata.
“To ha hā i e tau hafagiaga mo e fakaotiaga ke he tau maaga kehekehe ka takitaki ai he Vagahau Niue Trust, mo e tau fakaholoaga he tau matakau kehekehe to lagomatai ai he PMN Niue- kua ole atu au kia mutolu ke lagomatai atu e tau tagata Niue mo e ha lautolu a tau laliaga ke leveki mo e puipui e Vagahau Niue mo e Tau Aga Fakamotu ke lata ia mo e tau atuhau ne galo agaia,” he talahau mai e Gerardine.
Kumikumi atu ke he kupega hila MPP website mo e NZ Niue Language Week he Fofogapepa ka manako a mutolu ke matutaki atu ke he tau fakaholoaga ma e Faahi Tapu Vagahau Niue 2023.