PACIFIC LANGUAGE WEEKS 2022
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio has announced the 2022 Pacific Language Weeks series, highlighting the contribution of those who have provided life-saving Covid-19 messages in the nine Pacific Island languages over the past two years.
Pacific languages are a key cornerstone for the health and wellbeing of Pacific people. History shows us that a loss of language leads to a loss of culture and identity.
“We know when you lose your language, your culture soon follows, and when there is no longer culture, there is a void. Let’s prevent that void by fostering Pacific indigenous languages in our daily lives, and of course, by participating in the 2022 Pacific Language Weeks series,” Aupito William Sio said.
Pasefika Proud currently work with the eight key Pacific nations in New Zealand – Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga and Tuvalu – each with its own set of cultural beliefs, customs, values, traditions and language. These unique cultural attributes provide the foundation for the distinct wellbeing / family violence prevention strategies that are being developed by each Pacific nation. Preservation of language plays an important part.
The series will also aligns with the Ministry of Pacific Peoples Pacific Languages Strategy (https://www.mpp.govt.nz/assets/Pacific-Languages-Strategy-Consultation-/Pacific-Languages-Strategy-Summary.pdf) and the start of the UNESCO International Decade of Indigenous Languages https://en.unesco.org/news/upcoming-decade-indigenous-languages-2022-2032-focus-indigenous-language-users-human-rights) which recognises the right to preserve, revitalise and promote languages.
To keep our communities safe from Covid-19, all nine Pacific Language Weeks celebrations and events will be staged online this year, providing the opportunity for communities to reach greater audiences.
Ahead of the first Pacific Language Week of 2022, an online event will be staged to recognise the 2021 Language Champions, and the work they do to promote and nurture their respective languages.
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio announced the Pacific Language Weeks series on the 6th March. “We know when you lose your language, your culture soon follows, and when there is no longer culture, there is a void. Let’s prevent that void by fostering Pacific indigenous languages in our daily lives, and of course, by participating in the 2022 Pacific Language Weeks series,” Aupito William Sio said.
Pacific Language Week Dates 2022
| Language Week | Starts | Ends |
| Rotuman Language Week | Sunday 8 May | Saturday 14 May 2022 |
| Samoa Language Week | Sunday 29 May | Saturday 04 June 2022 |
| Kiribati Language Week | Sunday 10 July | Saturday 16 July 2022 |
| Cook Islands Language Week | Sunday 31 July | Saturday 06 August 2022 |
| Tonga Language Week | Sunday 04 September | Saturday 10 September 2022 |
| Tuvalu Language Week | Sunday 25 September | Saturday 01 October 2022 |
| Fijian Language Week | Sunday 02 October | Saturday 08 October 2022 |
| Niue Language Week | Sunday 16 October | Saturday 22 October 2022 |
| Tokelau Language Week | Sunday 23 October | Saturday 29 October 2022 |
Pasefika Proud Pathways for Change 2019-2023 Pacific families and communities are safe, resilient and enjoy wellbeing.
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Pasefika Proud is a social change movement – ‘by Pacific for Pacific’ – to boost wellbeing for Pacific families and transform attitudes, behaviours and norms that enable violence. Our name and strapline embody our strengths-based, community-led approach:
Pasefika Proud: Our Families, Our People, Our Responsibility