The Pacific languages hold immense cultural value and maintaining them is an essential step towards preserving their legacy for future generations. In collaboration with Pacific communities across New Zealand and abroad, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples published the Pacific Languages Strategy 2022–2032 to guide efforts in strengthening these languages. The Strategy highlights the importance of building a strong foundation of language resources, both spoken and written, to support effective language planning, maintenance, and revitalisation.
These guidelines offer best practice advice for writing in Pacific languages in New Zealand. Designed to be user-friendly and accessible, they are useful for both beginner and experienced learners. Developed in consultation with language experts, the guidelines use widely accepted conventions and principles to promote clarity, consistency, and accurate pronunciation, particularly for speakers in New Zealand.
We currently have orthography guidelines for five Pacific languages:
Vagahau Niue Orthography Guidelines (PDF 265 KB)
Te Gagana Tokelau Orthography Guidelines (PDF 365 KB)
Te Reo Māori Kūki 'Airani Orthography Guidelines (PDF 568 KB)
Gagana Sāmoa Orthography Guidelines (PDF 533 KB)
Lea Faka-Tonga Orthography Guidelines (PDF 423 KB)