Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs

Samoan Language Week - May 26-June 1

The first Pacific Language Week of the year - Samoan Language Week – begins this Sunday.

The theme of Samoan language week 2013 ‘Fafaga fanau i upu ma tala. Tautala i lau gagana’ – ‘Feed children with words and stories. Speak your language’.

This theme emphasises the importance of speaking Samoan in the home and ensuring that children have the tools and knowledge to nurture their heritage language well into the future.

Click here for more information.

2013 Auckland Council Elections

If you want to make a difference to the future of Auckland, come along to a Pacific community fono about standing as a candidate in the Auckland Council Elections:

Wednesday 22 May – 7.00pm-9.00pm - Wiri Community Hall, 11 Inverell Avenue, Manukau
Wednesday 5 June – 7.00pm – 9.00pm - Hillsborough Room, Fickling Centre, 546 Mt Albert Road, Three Kings
Tuesday 11 June – 7.00pm – 9.00pm - Henderson Civic Building Level 2, Council Chambers, 6 Henderson Valley Road, Henderson

For more information, click here.

Get on board

When Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs principal research analyst David Schaaf was asked to be on the Board of Trustees at the school his sons attended, he saw it as an opportunity to keep his finger on the pulse of their education.

To read the full story click here

To strengthen Pacific representation, the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs is reminding people to vote on 30 May. For more details on where to vote in your area, click here.

Pasifika Youth Conference 2013

The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs in association with the Auckland Agencies for Youth, Ministry of Youth Development, Careers NZ and Auckland Council held an inaugural Pasifika Youth Conference 2013 on 8 May.

With more than 200 Pasifika youth in attendance topics included NCEA Achievement, youth citizenship, youth transitions and language and cultural identity.

Tagata Pasifika were there to cover the event. 

Pacific Language Weeks announced for 2013

Following the success of previous years, 2013 will be a bumper year for
Pacific languages with seven language weeks taking place across the country:

Samoa: 26 May – 1 June 2013
Cook Island Maori: 4 -10 August 2013
Tonga: 1-7 September 2013
Inaugural Tuvalu: 30 Sept -6 October 2013
Inaugural Fiji: 7-13 October 2013
Tokelau: 28 October – 3 November 2013
Niue: 13-19 October 2013

Click here for more information.

ASB Polyfest showcases Pacific culture

The ASB Polyfest attracted over 90,000 people last week in the largest Maori and Pacific Island cultural festival of its kind in the world.

Over four festival days, 9,000 students from 59 schools and 200 performing groups showcased their culture through speech, song and dance.

Check out the Ministry's facebook page for pictures from Polyfest and the recent Pasifika Festival.

Early learning workshops

The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and the Ministry of Education together with other agencies will be holding a series of workshops over the coming months to promote the benefits of early learning, and to advise on financial support to help children attend.

Otara:                               6.30 pm Tuesday 26 March
Manurewa:                       6.30 pm Tuesday 30 April
Mangere:                          6.30 pm Tuesday 28 May
Otahuhu/Mt Wellington:     6.30 pm Tuesday 25 June

For more details click here or to RSVP please contact Silone Faoagali at the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs on 09 265 3229.