Kiribati Language Week 2023

Celebrate: Sunday 9 July - Saturday 15 July

The theme for Te Taetae ni Kiribati - Kiribati Language Week 2023 will be announced soon.

Last year's theme was - Ribanan, karikirakean ao kateimatoan ara katei ma ara taetae ni Kiribati, which means - Nurture, enhance and sustain the Kiribati language and culture!

Aligning with the Pacific Language Weeks overarching theme of sustainability, the Kiribati 2022 theme was about keeping the traditional art and modern technology skills to nurture, preserve and promote the Kiribati language into the future.

Kiribati is currently in the grip of a disastrous drought while it deals with the impact of climate change. In his 2022 acknowledgement statement, Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio reminded us that Kiribati Language Week is a special time to think about the future. 

"Given the current crisis, the theme (of Kiribati Language Week) sums up how the 3,225-strong Kiribati people who call Aotearoa home, feel," says Minister Sio.

"This also aligns with the Pacific Language Weeks overarching theme of sustainability in what is the first year of the UNESCO Decade of Indigenous Languages."

Watch this page for a calendar of activities and events to be held throughout Aotearoa to embrace and celebrate the richness of the Kiribati language, culture and traditions.

Stay connected online by visiting the official NZ Kiribati Language Week Facebook page.