The Pacific Languages Community Fund was established in 2020 to support community groups across Aotearoa New Zealand to learn, use, and celebrate their Pacific languages.
Pacific languages are central to identity, belonging, and wellbeing. This fund empowers communities to lead initiatives that revitalise and sustain their languages for future generations.
Over the past five years, hundreds of community groups have received support through community languages funding. Each year, the fund backs a diverse range of projects that:
This has supported the development of new resources, community language classes, language learning through arts, culture, and sports, and support for intergenerational language learning.
Projects can range from grassroots community efforts to large-scale signature initiatives.
In 2024, more than 50 groups received funding to deliver a wide variety of projects – from talking flashcards for children to recording Pacific language music, and community language classes to animated videos and children’s entertainment. There are plenty of exciting activities happening across Aotearoa New Zealand.
The full list of 2024 Pacific Languages Community Fund recipients is available below.
| Organisation | Region | Approved amount | Initiative focus | Pacific Language |
| Tuvaluan Whangarei Community | Northland | $16,000.00 | Language learning classes for beginners that incorporate cultural practices, music, dance, oratory, and storytelling | te 'gana Tuvalu |
| Action Education Incorporated | Auckland | $52,466.00 | Language learning through storytelling, showcasing spoken word poetry and launch of pilot programme | gagana Sāmoa, lea faka-Tonga |
| Akatokamanava Mauke Enua Association New Zealand Incorporated | Auckland | $24,400.00 | Language learning through cultural workshops specific to Mauke, language learning classes and resource development of a Mauke recipe book | te reo Māori Kūki 'Airani |
| Ahuuranui Limited | Auckland | $40,000.00 | Language learning through language classes and Tahitian performing arts with an end of programme showcase | Reo Tahiti |
| Atuhau Avatele NZ United | Auckland | $7,360.00 | Language learning through cultural workshops and development of online resources in vagahau Niue | vagahau Niue |
| Congregational Christian Church of Samoa Mangere Trust Board | Auckland | $40,000.00 | Language learning through workshops and language classes | gagana Sāmoa |
| Ekalesia Metotisi Samoa Drury | Auckland | $20,000.00 | Language learning through church activities and resources | gagana Sāmoa |
| Fighting Wave | Auckland | $40,000.00 | Language learning through the development of video resources, community engagement initiatives, and language classes | vagahau Niue |
| Free Wesleyan Church Of Tonga NZ Glen Innes | Auckland | $16,000.00 | Language learning through language and cultural workshops, a mentorship programme, and an end-of-programme celebration supported by a video resource | lea faka-Tonga |
| Ghost House Productions Limited | Auckland | $275,900.00 | Language learning through the creation of a digital animated series featuring songs and dances | gagana Sāmoa |
| Helping Our People Vuvale (Family) | Auckland | $4,000.00 | Language learning through language and wellbeing workshops | vosa vaka-Viti |
| Kiribati Federation Aotearoa (KFA) | Auckland | $63,810.40 | Language learning through a resource creation project producing books and educational materials for the Kiribati community | te taetae ni Kiribati |
| Laupapa Trust | Auckland | $33,200.00 | Language learning through workshops, cultural practices, storytelling, oratory, and community events | vagahau Niue |
| Lea-Ki-Moana Incorporated | Auckland | $80,000.00 | Language learning through the development of teaching resources, community engagement initiatives, and a public awareness campaign to promote lea faka-Tonga | lea faka-Tonga |
| Liku Tamahaleleka V5 | Auckland | $40,000.00 | Language learning through a resource creation project producing short films, storytelling, visual media, and digital songbooks to promote vagahau Niue | vagahau Niue |
| New Zealand Kahoa Tauleva Trust 2000 | Auckland | $40,000.00 | Language learning through resource creation by producing a series of digital lea faka-Tonga resources | lea faka-Tonga |
| New Zealand Rotuman Community Incorporated | Auckland | $38,496.00 | Language learning through intergenerational knowledge sharing between youth and elders using dance, supported by a digital resource created for the community | fäeag Rotuạm ta |
| Pacific Learners Educated Limited | Auckland | $12,400.00 | Language learning through the creation of digital animated videos in vagahau Niue, te gagana Tokelau, and vosa vaka-Viti | vagahau Niue, te gagana Tokelau & vosa vaka-Viti |
| Please Blow My Mind Limited & Campfire Studios | Auckland | $40,000.00 | Language learning through resource development in multiple Pacific languages | Pan Pacific |
| Poako Maamaloa | Auckland | $40,000.00 | Language learning through resource development | lea faka-Tonga |
| Polynesian Entertainers Limited | Auckland | $39,988.56 | Language learning through creative arts, storytelling, and the use of digital resources | gagana Sāmoa |
| Puloka Health Consultancy | Auckland | $40,000.00 | Language learning through a resource creation project: a Tongan health and medical app designed to promote the use of lea faka-Tonga in community health, enhance communication, and improve health literacy | lea faka-Tonga |
| Samoa Atia'e I Magele Incorporated | Auckland | $16,000.00 | Language learning classes incorporating cultural practices, oratory, and storytelling | gagana Sāmoa |
| Te Punanga Tauturu O Te Kuki Airani | Auckland | $40,000.00 | Language learning through the development of online platforms and resources for the te reo Māori Kūki 'Airani Tongareva dialect, complemented by workshops and a launch event | te reo Māori Kūki 'Airani |
| The Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | Auckland | $16,000.00 | Language learning through resource creation | gagana Sāmoa, lea faka-Tonga |
| Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust | Auckland | $37,600.00 | Language learning classes incorporating cultural practices, music, dance, oratory, and storytelling | te 'gana Tuvalu |
| United Church Of Tonga in New Zealand | Auckland | $18,640.00 | Language learning through classes and the creation of lea faka-Tonga resources | lea faka-Tonga |
| Atihake a Niue Waikato | Waikato | $9,826.40 | Language learning through developing conversational resources in vagahau Niue | vagahau Niue |
| Cook Islands Community Society Tokoroa Incorporated | Waikato | $40,000.00 | Language learning through community workshops and a Youth Symposium | te reo Māori Kūki 'Airani |
| Ni-Vanuatu Bay Of Plenty Association Aotearoa | Bay of Plenty | $6,080.00 | Language learning through cultural practices, storytelling, dance, and oratory | Vanuatu Bislama |
| Tairawhiti Fijian Community Incorporated | Gisborne | $16,000.00 | Language learning through cultural practices, storytelling, dance, and community engagement | vosa vaka-Viti |
| Tokelau Kei Ola Hastings | Hastings | $16,000.00 | Language learning through classes and workshops in te gagana Tokelau | te gagana Tokelau |
| Taranaki Vaimoana Pasifika Charitable Trust | Taranaki | $35,520.00 | Language learning through language classes and workshops | gagana Sāmoa, lea faka-Tonga & vosa vaka-Viti |
| Fale Pasifika Horowhenua | Horowhenua | $38,520.00 | Language learning through workshops using music and dance, supported by a Pacific Songbook with videos and translations | gagana Sāmoa, lea faka-Tonga, te 'gana Tuvalu, te taetae ni Kiribati & vosa vaka-Viti |
| Digital Business Hub | Wellington | $40,000.00 | Language learning through a digital platform offering video lessons, interactive resources, virtual talanoa sessions, cultural challenges, and youth ambassador engagement to promote gagana Sāmoa | gagana Sāmoa |
| Information New Zealand Limited | Wellington | $40,000.00 | Language learning through resource creation, producing materials in te gagana Tokelau | te gagana Tokelau |
| Pacific Connection Choir | Wellington | $68,880.00 | Language learning through resource creation by recording songs in different Pacific languages | Pan Pacific |
| Pasifika Hub Charitable Trust | Wellington | $36,320.00 | Language learning through the creation of conversation kits and a short educational video to support everyday use and understanding of the language | vagahau Niue |
| Remarkable Baby NZ | Wellington | $59,005.60 | Language learning through resource creation, promoting gagana Sāmoa and vagahau Niue | gagana Sāmoa & vagahau Niue |
| Niue Community Christchurch | Canterbury | $40,000.00 | Language learning through youth and adult classes, and vagahau Niue play school sessions for children | vagahau Niue |
| South Island Solomon Islands Association (Inc) | Canterbury | $36,720.00 | Language learning through cultural practices, storytelling, dance, and community engagement | Solomon Aelan Pijin |
| Tagata Moana Trust | Canterbury | $16,352.00 | Language learning through educational workshops focused on gagana Sāmoa & te reo Māori Kūki 'Airani | gagana Sāmoa & te reo Māori Kūki 'Airani |
| Congregational Christian Church of Samoa Blenheim | Marlborough | $10,000.00 | Language learning through dance, intergenerational sharing of knowledge between youth and elders | gagana Sāmoa |
| Fua Creative | Marlborough | $39,512.00 | Language learning through digital resources for Pacific languages, created through song composition | Pan Pacific |
| Congregational Christian Church of Samoa Nelson | Nelson | $40,000.00 | Language learning through dance, intergenerational sharing of knowledge between youth and elders and using church resources | gagana Sāmoa |
| Fa'alapotopotoga Tagata Samoa Nelson Tasman | Nelson | $40,000.00 | Language learning through language classes | gagana Sāmoa |
| Inspired Faith Church Motueka | Tasman | $14,400.00 | Language learning through church activities and resources | gagana Sāmoa |
| Dunedin Fijian Community | Otago | $16,200.00 | Language learning through language classess, storytelling and music. | vosa vaka-Viti |
| First Presbyterian Church of Otago Deacons Court Inc | Otago | $35,360.00 | Language learning through classes and workshops in gagana Sāmoa | gagana Sāmoa |
| Inspired Faith Church Balclutha | Otago | $12,000.00 | Language learning through church-based activities and resources | gagana Sāmoa |
| Pacific Trust Otago | Otago | $39,960.00 | Language learning through youth development, mentoring, and language classes | Pan Pacific |
| Penina o le Moana Siva Samoa | Otago | $16,000.00 | Language learning through dance workshops | gagana Sāmoa |
We encourage communities to start thinking about how they might contribute to the revitalisation of Pacific languages. Applications for the next funding round will open later in 2025.