Ulutonu mai ki te Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau - Welcome to Tokelau Language Week

This week marks the 13-year celebration of Tokelau Language Week. Te Gagana Tokelau (the Tokelauan language) is considered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as an endangered language. This reiterates the importance of this year’s theme:

Tokelau, puaki mai kō tau aganuku mo fanau i te lumanaki – 

Tokelau, unleash your culture for future generations

Pacific Island language weeks were introduced in 2012 by the Ministry of Pacific Peoples to support and promote Pacific languages in New Zealand. With the impact of online learning, social media, and ‘island wireless’ (word of mouth), Pacific Islanders have been able to share their language throughout Aotearoa to ensure it lives on in the children of the Pacific born and raised here.  

Check out our Tokelauan Language Week video and register for a webinar on Tokelau at the bottom of this page!

Tokelauans at Fire and Emergency

Ana Ioane – Qualified Firefighter (Volunteer)

Malo ni, I was born and raised in Nukunonu, Tokelau but am proud to also represent my kaiga (family) from Atafu, and Fakaofo, Tokelau.

Staying connected to my Tokelau culture gives me confidence, keeps me humble, and makes me proud of how unique our way of life is. Being raised in the family orientated culture in Tokelau has taught me values important to my role as a Firefighter – serving our communities and supporting my colleagues with passion, love, and care.

For me, I embody this year’s theme by leading by example. Speaking Tokelauan every day, learning a new fatele (song and dance), learning how to fish or cook in the Tokelauan way and passing this knowledge onto the next generation are ways I can ensure my culture is never lost.  After all, knowledge not shared is knowledge lost.

Shemya Patelesio – Coordinator Volunteer Data

Malo ni, embracing my Tokelauan roots is important to me because it’s a big part of my identity. This includes acknowledging the Tokelauan way of life, faith, heritage and customs unique to us. My family mainly associates with the islands of Nukunonu and Fakaofo and my favourite Tokelauan dish is ota (raw fish salad) and anything my nana makes.

Tokelauan values I learnt as a child such as respect, humility, and patience allow me to do my role effectively. 

Being a New Zealand born Tokelauan, this year’s theme is a reminder to continue learning my culture so I can pass on knowledge to the generation after me.

Higano (Gano) Perez – Pou Whirinaki Business Partner

My favourite Tokelauan food is ota – raw fish salad – and my family mainly associates with the Tokelau island of Nukunonu. Being Tokelauan has made me conscious of the reputation I continue to uphold of my family name and my tupūna (ancestors) in all walks of life. Taking this familial lens into the workplace helps me realise what is on the line in my current role – an opportunity to support a team focused on moving into the future while acknowledging the past.  

For me, this year’s theme means speaking Tokelauan every day to my children “Malo ni, ea mai koe? Tuku te mea tēnā! - Hello, how are you? Put that down!”

Vanessa Eketi - Coordinator Career Firefighter Recruitment

Malo ni, my family associates with the Tokelau islands of Fakaofo and Nukunonu. My favourite Tokelau dish is puta - Sweet Fried Bread. Reflecting on my Tokelau values, Fakaaloalo (Respect), Service, and Community inform everything I do.

At work this translates to respecting colleagues, candidates, providing the best possible service, and working well as part of the wider team. 

For me, this year’s theme emphasises the importance of embracing and sharing our Tokelau culture for generations to come.

Henry Atoni – Recruit Firefighter

Malo ni, part of what inspired me to take up this career can be summed up in the Tokelauan alagakupu (proverb):

“Alofa ki te tamāmanu - Caring for the vulnerable” 

In our Tokelau culture, service to your family and community is key. We look out for each other, and no one gets left behind so stepping into this role felt natural. This year’s theme to me is a reminder that our language and culture kept alive today will shape the identity and pride of Tokelau’s next generations – our kids, grandkids, and beyond.

Manuia te Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau! – Happy Tokelauan Language Week!

Phoenix Patelesio – Business Services Assistant

My favourite Tokelauan food would have to be Puta – Sweet Fried Bread. That’s already great on its own but having it fresh with butter and maple syrup takes it to another level (I have a serious sweet tooth).

My family mostly associate with Fakaofo and Nukunonu but at the end of the day, we all have traces of all three atolls. We are all an ongoing part of our ancestors' stories, and I think it’s important to stay in touch with your roots because it’s a grounding reminder of where you came from.

As Tokelauans, it’s important we show the values of respect, service, courtesy and compassion. These values have been ingrained in my upbringing and they reflect how I operate in my work and personal life.

Tokelau Fun Facts

1. Climate friendly – Tokelau is the first 100 percent solar-powered nation in the world.
2. Geography – Tokelau has three small coral atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo. A fourth atoll, Olohega, was controversially annexed by the United States in 1925.
3. Getting there – The only way to and from Tokelau is via a 24 hour ferry ride from Samoa.
4. Culture – The Inati process is the distribution of a large catch of fish amongst the village. No families are left out regardless of whether they contributed to the catch. It’s a pillar of Tokelauan communal culture.
5. Political system – Each atoll has an Ulu-o-Tokelau (head of Tokelau) annually on a rotating basis among the atolls.
6. Population – 1500 Tokelauans reside in Tokelau and over 8000 live overseas in Australia, Samoa, the United States, but most in Aotearoa.

How can I or my children learn Tokelauan?

• The Centre for Pacific Languages: NZ’s only Pacific language hub(external link) (keep an eye out in the new year for next intake)
• Click here(external link) to explore Tokelauan as an NCEA language at college
• Tokelauan Early Education Centres:
  • Matiti Tokelau Akoga Kamata, Naenae Lower Hutt
  • Mataliki Tokelau Akoga Kamata, Mangere East Auckland
  • Fetufa Tokelau Akoga Kamata Preschool, Te Atatū, Auckland

Fun Stuff

Click here(external link) to register for our Tokelau Webinar Presentation on Thursday 30th October