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Scoop
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Kiribati Language Week: Celebrating Culture Amid Rising Seas Back Home
Kam na bane ni mauri, greetings everyone, it's Kiribati Language Week in Aotearoa, marking five years since the celebration began. This year's theme is: "Living our valued cultural practices through love and respect upholds our dignity and fosters growth for a successful future." Events are taking place across the country, and on Wednesday in South Auckland, Westfield Manukau Mall came alive with cultural performances and flower-making workshops led by the Te Onikabwebwe Women's Club, offering a hands-on Kiribati experience to the public. One group member Kauanga Ioera said many people still mispronounce the name of her country, "a lot of people say 'Kiri-bah-tee', but it's 'Kiri-bas'. We pronounce our 't' and 'i' as 'c'," she explained. Whenever she introduces herself and say where she's from, she also has to explain where Kiribati is. "Every time we mention, oh, we're from Kiribati, [people say] oh, where's that? So they don't really know where Kiribati is. "Kiribati is a small island, three hours away from Fiji, we are Micronesians." Many of the community in Auckland have travelled to Wellington for this year's celebrations. "We're preparing right now for our Kiribati independence all the way in Wellington, and we're just feeling the Kiribati spirit, like, and we want to share with everyone here our Kiribati spirit and culture," Ioera said. Performer James Tonganibeia, who danced before hundreds at Westfield Manukau Mall, wore a traditional rope made from ancestral hair. "So the ropes that we use to tie our mats are the hairs of our elders, and these hair carry us in our dance. "While we're carrying their hair, we're also carrying them in our dance, it just helps us give us more energy and it's really important for us to carry it with us." Tonganibeia said. The Centre for Pacific Languages works with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples to support language retention through classes, resources, and community funding. Centre for Pacific Languages chief executive Fesaitu Solomone said just 50 percent of New Zealand's Kiribati community (over 3000 people) can speak the language, according to past census data. She highlights the importance of the next generation learning the language of their Pacific heritage. "I've always encouraged our young people. This message is to if you want to learn the language, don't be shy, be proud of your identity, speak the language, because that's where we're going to retain our language and culture, and the revitalisation of languages starts with you as an individual. "I believe with the aspirations as a community, they've put it in the action plan that they want more people. They want the language to start from home as well content resources to help them." Solomone said. Events to celebrate Kiribati Language Week will continue until Saturday, with major celebrations led by I-Kiribati communities in Auckland, Dunedin, and Wellington.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Manurewa's First Pan-Pacific Strategy Takes Final Step
Manurewa is set to adopt its first Pan-Pacific Strategy, marking a milestone for the South Auckland community where nearly 40% of residents identify as Pasifika. The strategy will be formally presented to the Manurewa Local Board on Thursday, driven by a tight funding deadline and push to include all Pacific voices. Speaking ahead of tomorrow's presentation, Ifopo confirmed the strategy had received strong support. 'We asked three simple questions online: Do you support it, don't support it, and why? And the overwhelming response was support. No one said they didn't support it,' she said. The strategy was shared with the public on April 30 at Te Matariki Clendon Community Centre. A packed room of Pacific elders, church leaders, educators, youth workers, and elected officials welcomed the milestone but raised concerns about the short timeframe and the inclusion of smaller Pacific nations. 'This is about making sure our Pacific community isn't left behind again,' said Manurewa Local Board Chair Matt Winiata. 'This strategy gives us a tool to unlock long-term funding and bring visibility to Pasifika in Manurewa. But we need to get it on paper now.' The 10-year strategy outlines six short-term priorities: -Youth empowerment -Environment and climate resilience -Education, training and employment -Culture, language and identity -Community spaces -Community engagement and partnerships The committee developed the strategy through surveys, online submissions, and community talanoa. Committee Chair Penina Ifopo said the community built the strategy for themselves. 'We're not politicians, but we speak action,' she said. 'While we have the opportunity and the funding, let's move, otherwise this becomes just another document gathering dust.' Auckland Council facilitator Akerei Maresala-Thomson said the process connected data with tautua (service), to ensure the final strategy is both meaningful and financially empowering. 'We want to lock it down, so there's no excuses for our community to miss out again.' Throughout the evening, speakers urged the strategy to reflect the full Pacific spectrum — especially smaller nations. 'There's about 2,400 of us Tokelauans in Aotearoa, even less in Manurewa. We make up less than 1% of the Pacific population here,' said community leader Matt Enelio. 'Our language is endangered. How can we make sure our people are represented in this plan?' Fesaitu Solomone, Chief Executive of the Centre for Pacific Languages, echoed the importance of inclusive design and engagement — particularly for often-overlooked communities. 'We need to look for those communities, engage with them so they feel like they're part of Manurewa and the Pan-Pacific Strategy.' Although few young people attended the event, their contributions helped shape the plan. 'Youth was one of our key priorities,' said Maresala-Thomson. 'Not many turned up in person early on, but they engaged online. That feedback informed the February talanoa and helped shape the subcommittee that refined the strategy.' Youth representative D'Angelo Baice provided a voice on the committee. With only one Pacific member currently on the Manurewa Local Board, Ifopo also called for greater community participation in local government. 'We're not doing well in civic participation,' she said. 'We're not voting. It doesn't speak the language of our young people. But we must engage so that we can have the voice." Community members are encouraged to share final feedback by May 7 via email or directly with committee representatives. The strategy will be submitted for endorsement on Thursday afternoon. 'We need you, we need your thoughts,' Ifopo said. 'We're inviting the whole village to come along. This is our work together.' While some called for more time, many agreed the opportunity was too important to miss. 'We've waited long enough,' said one elder. 'Let's not miss the boat.'
