Red pandanus seed pods joined together and shown in two rows on a white background

So’o se gagana lava e iai ona suiga. O nei suiga e afua mai la tā fa’aaogāina ‘o le gagana. ‘O la tā fa’aaogāina fo’i o le gagana, e afua mai i lo tā fa’asinomaga. Mo le Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa 2020, ua matou vala’auliaina ai le Susūga ia Le’ausālilō Lupematasila Fata ‘Au’afa Dr. Sadat Muaiava e fa’asoa i lana su’esu’ega sa fai mo lana fa’ailoga ‘o le Foma’i ‘o le Tōfā Manino, lea sa ia sa’ili’ili ai ‘i suiga ‘o le gagana Samoa mai le tausaga e 1906 seia o’o i le tausaga e 2014. ‘O Le’ausālilō ‘olo’o faiāoga nei i le Mataupu Tau Samoa i le Iunivesite o Vitoria, Uelegitone, i Niu Sila. Read more

By:
On:
In: Pacific
Red pandanus seed pods joined together and shown in two rows on a white background

Language changes over time, and the way we speak is influenced by who and where we are and how we are putting language to use. For Sāmoan Language week 2020, we have invited Le’ausālilō Lupematasila Fata ‘Au’afa Dr Sadat Muaiava to share some insights from his doctoral research on Sāmoan language change from 1906–2014. Le’ausālilō, is a lecturer in the Sāmoan Studies programme at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.Read more

By:
On:
In: Pacific
Sepia image of 15 people sitting on flax mats under trees

Ka whakanuia tētahi o ngā reo onge rawa o te ao e te Wiki o te Reo Rotuman. Mā Jacki Leota-Mua, arā, ko te Mātanga Hōtaka Iwi Whānui, rātou ko ngā mema o te hapori o Rotuman tātou e kawe atu i te haumarutanga o ngā poihau rāhui ki Rotuma, e 500 manomita ki te raki o Whītī, ki te rapu kōrero anō mō ngā hui whakanui kava a tēnei motu.Read more

By:
On:
In: Pacific
Sepia image of 15 people sitting on flax mats under trees

Kav fak gagaj fak Rotuma

‘Amnäk ne gasav ne fäeag Rotuạm ta, la a‘pumuạ‘ạkia fäegat ne hele‘uen la peak pạu ‘e laloag ne rän te‘. Jacki Leota-Mua ne garue ‘e Te Papa ma kạutạunạ‘iạg Rotuạm ne Niusirạgi (NZRF group), hö‘ạkia ‘os a‘häe se ‘os ‘ạtmot ta Rotuma, ne fu sousou ‘e Fiti la hạila‘oag ma mäel tarạu fol ma saghul (500kms). ‘Oris ‘amnạki la sạkiroa rere ne foh kav fak Rotuma. Read more

By:
On:
In: Pacific
Sepia image of 15 people sitting on flax mats under trees

Rotuman Language Week celebrates one of the rarest languages in the world. Public Programmes Specialist Jacki Leota-Mua and members of the Rotuman community transport us from the safety of our rāhui bubbles to Rotuma, 500 kilometres north of Fiji, to discover more about the island’s kava ceremonies.Read more

By:
On:
In: Pacific
Nǐhǎo from Austin Wang. Photo by Ken Downie, 2012

Austin Wang was born in Auckland but his family comes from Shenyang city in China. They speak Mandarin at home, and the family’s Chinese heritage is an important part of their busy life.   Austin hears and speaks Mandarin at home all the time, but the challenge to teach him toRead more

By:
On:
In: History
Whale’s tooth on a braided necklace

Tabua (pronounced “tambua” – the b has a ‘mb’ sound) are pierced and braided whales’ teeth, originally taken from the lower jaw of sperm whales. Fijians consider them to be kavakaturanga (chiefly items). Pacific Cultures curator Sean Mallon highlights some personalised tabua from the collections.Read more

By:
On:
In: Art, Pacific

This week to celebrate Tuvalu language week 2014 we have shared a few highlights from our collection on Instagram including a pair of taka (reef sandals). In Tuvalu taka were more than a fashion statement, for some they were a necessity. Tuvalu is a low-lying island group made up of four reef islandsRead more

By:
On:
In: Pacific

Fakatalofa atu! This week is Tuvalu language week 2014 and the theme is Tuvalu ko tou lagaifakalaga ke mau mai aulua foe: Your language keeps your culture and identity afloat, continue to work together. The Papa’s Pacific Cultures collections have around 195 artefacts associated with Tuvalu, including fishing gear, fans,Read more

By:
On:
In: Pacific

This week is Tongan language week 2014 – Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e Lea Faka-Tonga. The theme for this year is “Ko e Kai ia ‘a e Tonga” – “Enriching Aotearoa with Tongan Wisdom”. Te Papa’s Pacific Cultures collections have just over 1000 artefacts associated with Tonga, from art works andRead more

By:
On:
In: Pacific

Māori Language Week 2014! To celebrate the Te Papa Education team offered teachers something new, as 37 teachers from all over Wellington, ranging from ECE to intermediate school, joined together to grow and support Te Reo Māori in the classroom. We played a range of kēmu to get the blood and the brain pumping,Read more

By:
On:
In: Education, Māori