School children explore culture with Samoan language

AUCKLAND – Children in South Auckland are braving the winter weather in traditional Samoan attire this week to celebrate Samoan language week.

New Zealanders all over the country will also join in by participating in debates, cooking traditional Samoan food, seeing cultural performances and speaking the language.

Students of Weymouth Primary School in Manurewa have entered into their celebrations with a school assembly that featured community guest speakers, singing and traditional dancing.

This year’s theme is ‘Tautua nei mo sou manuia a taeao’ which means ‘Serve now for a better tomorrow’.

The school’s principal, Saane Faaofo-Oldehaver, says she doesn’t speak the language herself because her parents’ wanted to assimilate into New Zealand culture.

“My parents came to New Zealand when they were 15 or 16 and they didn’t go back to Samoa for about 40 years and they had all seven us here and we pretty much went through with no langauge.

“Culture and identity were there but we didn’t have the langauge. I feel sad I don’t have the language.”

About 40 per cent of the Weymouth Primary School’s local community are Pasifika, with 20 per cent being Samoan.

Faaofo-Oldehaver says it was important for the school to support the children in celebrating Pacific culture and language.

“Did you see their faces in that assembly? They were just over the moon. They love it and they are the ones that are really proud of their culture and have come in their traditional costume today. They love it.”

A student ambassador, Aiaraisa Tautalagia, says her parents only speak to her in Samoan in special circumstances.

“When I get growlings – because my cousins are there and they don’t understand proper Samoan so they growl me in Samoan.”

Samoan is the third most spoken language in New Zealand, with 144,000 people at the last Census identifying as Samoan. It is also the second most spoken language in Auckland.

Pastor Chris Sola who is Samoan Maori says this week’s celebration of the language is vital for it’s survival in New Zealand.

“I think it’s a starting point. I think schools are a good context for that. I think churches play a huge role in that as well but certainly having a week like this is certainly going to put it out there for our communities and our families.”

Other schools and community groups nationwide will be holding dance workshops, sporting events, theatre productions and more to celebrate Samoan Language week.