Such Pacific language weeks would see resources created to support long-term language planning, she said.
This year’s Fijian Language Week theme is: Me vakabulabulataki, vakamareqeti, ka vakaqqacotaki na vosa vakaviti. Translated, it means: Nurture, preserve and maintain the Fijian language.
According to the 2018 Census, approximately 21,000 Fijians live in New Zealand. Up to 11 per cent of those people are speakers of their mother tongue.
Tomorrow also marks 53 years since the island nation became independent in 1970.
Various activities and events will be held to commemorate Fijian Language Week around Aotearoa.
They include learning and preparing authentic Fijian cuisine, a Fijian cultural night, the study of Fijian songs and dances and the scraping of coconuts and tapa cloth.
Uniting a community by nurturing language
The 2023 Pacific Language Week sustainability theme matches the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Decade of Indigenous Languages and Pacific Languages Strategy.
Each year, an increasing number of Fijian groups based in regional communities become involved, including Fijian workers here under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme.
“We know this is particularly important after the impact extreme weather events have had on the well-being of our Pacific people in affected areas,” Edmonds said.
“Our role as a community is to be united in nurturing our language through creating environments where Vosa Vakaviti is used by more people and in more spaces.”
The official languages of Fiji are Fijian, Fiji-Hindi and English.
As a member of the Malayo-Polynesian language family, Fijian and te reo Māori share similarities, including vowel pronunciation.
Fijian Language Week runs until Saturday, October 14 (Election day).
For more information on events happening around your area, visit: Ministry for Pacific Peoples
Give it a go
Hello: Bula (Bull-uh)
Goodbye: Moce (more-theh)
Thank you: Vinaka (Vee-nah-kah)
Go, Fiji, go! Toso, Viti, toso! (tore-saw-Vee-tee-tore-saw!)
