Mālo ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Kia orāna, Tālofa lava, Mālō e lelei, Talofa, Noa'ia, Ni sa bula vinaka, Mauri, Tēnā koutou katoa and warm greetings to you all.

Dates for Pacific Language Weeks 2023 have been announced! See below for details.

In her acknowledgement of Pacific Language Weeks 2023, Minister for Pacific Peoples Barbara Edmonds highlighted the need to revitalise and sustain languages for future generations.

“Pacific languages are a cornerstone of our health, wellbeing and identity as Pacific peoples. When our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated, our communities thrive,” Barbara Edmonds said.

“We have seen how crucial supporting our indigenous languages are in New Zealand. During the pandemic and recent extreme weather events, languages played a huge role in keeping our Pacific communities connected".

“We are continuing to deliver on commitments made in the Pacific Languages Strategy launched last year and provides a long-term approach to supporting our Pacific peoples.”

“I want to encourage everyone to get involved in the Pacific Language Weeks and celebrate each of these unique languages which enrich and diversify our country,” she said.

 

2023 Celebrations

 

The overarching theme for the 2022 Pacific Language Weeks was sustainability, which aligned with our Pacific Languages Strategy and fed into the UNESCO Decade of Indigenous Languages to sustain and revitalise heritage languages. This theme of sustainability has resonated strongly with our Pacific communities, who have agreed to carry it over for Pacific Language Weeks 2023.