Pacific Language Weeks
The Ministry for Pacific Peoples works closely with Pacific communities’ to maintain and promote heritage languages.
Part of this work is the Ministry’s support for Pacific Language Weeks, which have grown significantly since Samoan Language Week was first celebrated in 2007.
The 2017 Pacific Language Weeks are:
|
Samoa |
|
|
Cook Islands |
Sunday 30 July – Saturday 5 August 2017 |
|
Tonga |
Sunday 3 September – Saturday 9 September 2017 |
|
Tuvalu |
Sunday 1 October – Saturday 7 October 2017 |
|
Fiji |
Sunday 8 October – Saturday 14 October 2017 |
|
Niue |
Sunday 15 October – Saturday 21 October 2017 |
|
Tokelau |
Monday 23 October – Sunday 29 October 2017 |
Samoan salutations
|
|
Formal | Informal |
|
Hello |
Talofa lava Afio mai a Maliu mai a Susu mai a Mapu mai a |
Talofa |
|
Welcome |
Pouliuligia mai a (if someone important arrives after nightfall) |
Malo |
|
|
Sautia mai a (if someone important arrives late at night or early in morning |
Ua e sau |
|
|
Sosopo mai (when welcoming an orator/tulafale |
|
|
Farewell – Good bye |
Fa'a soifua ia |
Tofa loa |
|
|
Fa'a tofa ia |
|
|
Please |
Fa'amolemole |
Fa'amolemole |
|
Thank you |
Fa'afetai tele lava |
Fa'afetai |
|
|
Malo faafetai |
|
|
Be well and prosper |
Ia soifua ma ia manuia |
|
Cook Islands salutations
|
|
Formal | Informal |
|
Hello |
Kia orana |
Kia orana |
|
Welcome |
Turou |
Aere mai |
|
Farewell - Good bye |
Aere ra (to person going) |
Aere ra (to person going) |
|
Please |
Ine |
Ine |
|
Thank you |
Meitaki |
Meitaki maata |
|
Good Luck |
Kia manuia |
Kia manuia |
Tonga salutations
|
|
Formal | Informal |
|
Hello |
Malo e laumalie (addressing a lot of people or nobles and special guests) |
M alo e lelei
|
|
Welcome |
Malo e me'a mai |
Malo e me'a mai |
|
Farewell - Goodbye |
Faka'au aa (formal to person leaving) |
Me'a a
|
|
Please |
Fakamolemole |
Fakamolemole |
|
Thank you |
Malo 'aupito |
Malo 'aupito |
|
Respectfully |
Faka'apa'apa atu |
Faka'apa'apa atu |
Tuvalu salutations
|
|
Formal | Informal |
|
Hello |
Fakatalofa atu |
Fakatalofa atu |
|
Welcome |
Fakatalofa atu |
Fakatalofa atu |
|
Farewell - Goodbye |
Tofa Ia |
Tofa Ia |
|
Please |
Fakamolemole |
Fakamolemole |
|
Thank you |
Fakefetai lasi |
Fakefetai |
Fiji salutations
|
|
Formal | Informal |
|
Hello |
Ni sa bula vinaka |
Bula |
|
Welcome |
Veikidavaki |
Bula |
|
Farewell - Goodbye |
Ni sa Moce |
Moce Mada |
|
Please |
Vakayalovinaka-taka |
Yalovinaka |
|
Thank you |
Vinaka Vakalevu |
Vinaka |
Niue salutations
|
|
Formal | Informal |
|
Hello |
Fakaalofa lahi atu
|
Fakaalofa atu |
|
Welcome |
Fakaaue ha kua feleveia |
Fakaalofa lahi atu |
|
Farewell - Goodbye |
Kia monuina |
Koe kia |
|
Please |
Fakamolemole |
Fakamolemole |
|
Thank you |
Oue tulou |
Fakaaue lahi |
|
May you be blessed |
Kia monuina |
Kia monuina |
Tokelau salutations
|
|
Formal | Informal |
|
Hello |
Malo ni |
Malo ni |
|
Welcome |
Ulu tonu mai |
Malo te aofia mai |
|
Farewell – Goodbye |
Tofa ni |
Tofa ni |
|
Please |
Fakamolemole |
Fakamolemole |
|
Thank you |
Fakafetai |
Fakafetai |
|
May you be blessed in God’s love |
Ke manuia koe i te alofa o te Atua |
Ke manuia koe i te alofa o te Atua |
Pacific Language Statistics
The number of fluent Pacific language speakers is declining and in response to this trend the Ministry has responded by making language preservation a priority.
| Pacific ethnic groups | 2001 Population | 2001 Speakers |
2006 Population |
2006 Speakers |
2013 Population |
2013 Speakers |
|
Samoa |
115,017 |
81,036 (70.55) |
131,103 |
85,428 (65%) |
144,138 |
86,403 (60%) |
|
Cook Islands |
51,486 |
9,372 (18%) |
56,895 |
9,702 (17%) |
61,077 |
8,121 (13%) |
|
Tonga |
40,716 |
23,046 (57%) |
50,481 |
29,499 (58%) |
60,333 |
31,839 (53%) |
|
Niue |
20,148 |
5,478 (27%) |
22,476 |
5,481 (24%) |
23,883 |
4,545 (19%) |
|
Fiji |
7,041 |
3,588 (51%) |
9,864 |
4,977 (51%) |
14,445 |
6,273 (43%) |
|
Tokelau |
6,204 |
2,808 (45%) |
6,819 |
2,796 (41%) |
7,173 |
2,469 (34%) |
|
Tuvalu |
1,968 |
1,398 (71%) |
2,625 |
1,872 (71%) |
3,537 |
2,349 (66%) |
Census, Statistics New Zealand.
