New Zealand celebrates Tuvalu language week

WELLINGTON – The importance of keeping Pacific languages alive will be highlighted during Tuvalu Language Week, New Zealand’s Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

The theme of Tuvalu Language Week is Tau gana ko tou Iloga – ‘Language is your Identity’.

“The idea of the theme is to empower and encourage the Tuvalu people to hold on to their language and culture,” Lotu-liga says. “The proportion of Pacific people speaking their languages is declining so it is important that we support communities to keep their languages and their cultures alive.

“Our Tuvalu communities add richness to New Zealand with their vibrant culture and language and this week is a chance to celebrate and experience the Tuvalu way of life,” Mr Lotu-liga says.

More than 3500 Tuvaluans live in New Zealand and almost half this number was born here.

Just over 65 per cent of the Tuvalu population in New Zealand speaks Tuvalu.

The week will be punctuated with events in Auckland, Wellington, Kapiti Coast and Southland.

The 2015 line-up of seven Pacific language weeks started with Samoa Language Week in May and ends with Tokelau Language Week in October.