Celebrate the rich languages of the Pacific with the 2025 Pacific Language Weeks series. Experience vibrant community events and engaging learning initiatives designed to promote and preserve Pacific languages.
The Ministry proudly supports each community in delivering their Pacific Language Week by providing resources, and amplifying their efforts across our social media channels.
This year, Bislama, the national language of Vanuatu will be included for the first time. Bislama joins Rotuma, Samoa, Kiribati, Cook Islands Māori, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Fiji, Niue, Tokelau and Solomon Islands, bringing the total to 12 Pacific language weeks.
Stay tuned for the release of themes for each language week, which will be announced closer to the celebrations.
Follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter Fetu to participate.
Enhance your celebration and learning with our free Pacific Language Week resources. Use them at home, work, school, or within your community.
Download posters for print:
Pacific Language Weeks poster - A3 (PDF 2.4 MB)
Pacific Language Weeks poster - A5 (PDF 2.8 MB)
Download social media assets:
All social media assets (ZIP 19 MB)
Download email signatures:
Email signature banner (JPG 634 KB)
Email signature including dates (JPG 914 KB)
More resources, including social media graphics and posters, will be available on each language week page ahead of the celebrations.
Pacific languages are essential for the identity, culture, and well-being of Pacific communities. Research shows that language loss can lead to cultural and identity loss, making language preservation a critical mission.
Language Week celebrations had their origins in Samoa in 2007 with Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa, founded by Fa’alapotopotoga mo le A’oa’oina o le Gagana Samoa i Aotearoa (FAGASA). In 2009, the Human Rights Commission came on board to support the communities and the concept of Pacific Language Weeks was born.
Since 2010, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples has been supporting Pacific Language Weeks, promoting and raising awareness of the diversity of our Pacific languages in Aotearoa. Each year, the Ministry works closely with Pacific communities’ to maintain and promote indigenous languages across the country, encouraging their use in our daily lives to help them thrive.
While each language is highlighted with a dedicated ‘week’ of activities, each event is actually a yearlong celebration of the languages, with extended activities throughout the year. These activities and language learning initiatives are led by our Pacific communities throughout Aotearoa and supported by the Ministry.
To help with planning for schools, community groups, and organizations, the Ministry is excited to announce the 2026 Pacific Language Weeks in advance. This initiative reinforces our commitment to preserving these cultural treasures for future generations.
Dates below:
| Language | 2026 Dates |
|
Rotuman Language Week |
Sunday 10 May – Saturday 16 May |
| Samoa Language Week | Sunday 31 May - Saturday 6 June |
|
Kiribati Language Week |
Sunday 5 July – Saturday 11 July |
|
Vanuatu Language Week |
Sunday 26 July – Saturday 1 August |
|
Cook Islands Māori Language Week |
Sunday 2 August – Saturday 8 August |
|
Tonga Language Week |
Sunday 16 August – Saturday 22 August |
|
Papua New Guinea Pidgin Language Week |
Sunday 6 September – Saturday 12 September |
|
Tuvalu Language Week |
Sunday 27 September – Saturday 3 October |
|
Fijian Language Week |
Sunday 4 October – Saturday 10 October |
|
Niue Language Week |
Sunday 18 October – Saturday 24 October |
|
Tokelau Language Week |
Sunday 25 October – Saturday 31 October |
|
Solomon Islands Pidgin Language Week |
Sunday 22 November – Saturday 28 November |
