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.
Coming soon!
Coming soon!
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 |