Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs

Pacific languages

Strengthened Pacific languages

We support communities to promote and maintain Pacific languages in New Zealand. Read more about our work with Pacific languages in the Our Priorities section.

Learn Pacific languages

Welcome/hello:

• Talofa lava (Samoan)
• Kia orana (Cook Islands Maori)
• Malo e lelei (Tongan)
• Fakaalofa lahi atu (Niuean)
• Bula vinaka (Fijian)
• Namaste (Fijian Indian)
• Malo ni (Tokelauan)
• Halo ola keta (PNG)
• Mauri (Kiribati)
• Fakatalofa atu (Tuvalu)

In support of the use of Pacific languages in the home and community, we have developed a series of language resources in partnership with Niuean, Tokelauan and Cook Islands communities:

Cook Islands salutations

Spoken and written phrases in Cook Island Maori. Read more about Cook Islands salutations

Niue salutations

Spoken and written phrases in Niuean. Read more about Niue salutations

Samoa Salutations

Spoken and written phrases in Samoan. Read more about Samoa Salutations

Solomon Islands (Pidgin) salutations

Spoken and written phrases in Solomon Islands pidgin. Read more about Solomon Islands (Pidgin) salutations

Tokelau salutations

Spoken and written phrases in Tokelauan. Read more about Tokelau salutations

Tonga salutations

Spoken and written phrases in Tongan. Read more about Tonga salutations

Tuvalu salutations

Spoken and written phrases in Tuvaluan. Read more about Tuvalu salutations