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Tonga Language Week 2023

Tonga Language Week 2023

Tonga Webtile

Celebrate: Sunday 3 September – Saturday 9 September

This year’s theme for Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga - Tonga Language Week will be revealed soon.

Last year's theme was: Ke Tu'uloa 'a e lea faka-Tonga 'i Aotearoa, which means Sustaining the Tonga Language in Aotearoa. 

Ke Tu'uloa 'a e lea faka-Tönga′ 'i Aotearoa has a positive and progressive connotation. To support the overarching Language Weeks theme of Sustainability, the word TU'ULOA in the 2022 theme means to continuously grow, nurture, and sustain a valued idea, practice, event, or memory in an enduring way.

In his acknowledgement of Tonga Language Week 2022, Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio urged Tongans everywhere to embrace Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga, to help stop the decline in its use by the New Zealand born Tongan population.

Activities and events for 2023 will be hosted throughout Aotearoa, to embrace Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga. Given the success of Tongan Language Week online last year, some community groups are planning to deliver their initiatives online, while the majority will be face-to-face. Many of the initiatives this year continue to focus on youth and the passing of cultural knowledge from the elders to young people. 

Bookmark this page to see the Calendar of Events when published. Stay connected online by visiting the official NZ Tonga Language Week Facebook page.

Tonga Language Week resources

Coming soon!

Calendar of Events 2023

Coming soon!

Tonga Language Week Funding Recipients

Coming soon!

Below are recipients of funding for community contributions towards Tonga Language Week preparations in 2021:

Organisation/Group Name

Location

 Approved Amount

Language

Initiative focus

Christchurch Tongan Youth Council Christchurch

 

3,000.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance, quiz and music

Ēseli Youth

Dunedin

3,700.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices and oratory

Fine Tonga oku haka i he kolo mahanga

Hastings

5,000.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music

Fofo'anga o Aotearoa Incorporated Society

Auckland

5,000.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, kava ceremony and storytelling

Fonu Moe Moa Aotearoa Society Incorporated

Auckland

5,000.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling and intergenerational passing of knowledge from Elders to Youth

Haape Mata Mei Langi o Glen Innes

Auckland

3,500.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music

Kakala Malie Inc Society

Auckland

5,000.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, and storytelling

Kalapu Maileua Charitable Trust

Auckland

2,000.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, cooking storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music

Kalasi’aho Famili Koinonia

Auckland

1,000.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, weaving, arts and craft, dance and music

Makatu’unga He ‘Ofa Tongan Community Wellington Incorporated

Wellington

5,000.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling and intergenerational passing of knowledge from Elders to Youth

Malia Tupuimakulata Choir

Christchurch

5,000.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music

New Zealand Tongan Tertiary Student association

Auckland

3,500.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning competition

Otago Tongan Students' Association (OTSA)

Dunedin

3,200.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music

Palataisi Tongan Childrens Trust

Invercargill

3,700.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music

Taulama Lea FakaTonga Services Ltd

Auckland

5,000.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, music and through church activities

Tongan Society South Canterbury Inc

Timaru

5,000.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory and storytelling

Victoria University of Wellington Tongan Students' Association

Wellington

3,250.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music

Waikato Tongan Community Charity Trust

Hamilton

3,500.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling

Wellington Tongan Leaders Council

Wellington

5,000.00

Lea Faka Tonga

Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music