Zoe Miller – Kids' Blog

Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa | Sāmoa Language Week 2023!

Zoe Miller29 May, 2023 0 Comments

Tālofa Lava! Welcome to Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa, Sāmoa Language Week 2023!

What is Sāmoa Language Week?

Sāmoa Language Week | Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa is celebrated this year from 28 May – 3rd June 2023. This is a chance for all New Zealanders to celebrate Sāmoa language, Sāmoan culture in New Zealand and around the world, and to promote the use of Sāmoan language in schools, at work and at home.

Did you know that nearly 4% of New Zealanders are Sāmoan? That’s almost 200,000 people! Gagana Sāmoa is the 3^rd most spoken language in Aotearoa, New Zealand!

Being proud of your language is such an important part of feeling proud of your culture. This year’s theme for Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa is:

‘Mitamita i lau gagana, maua’a lou fa’asinomaga’ which means ‘Be proud of your language and grounded in your identity’.

This blog was written using the topics explored on the from the Ministry of Pacific Peoples Website. You can read the original article here: Ministry for Pacific Peoples — Sāmoa Language Week 2023 (mpp.govt.nz)

Feel proud about being Sāmoan!

When you feel proud and strong in your Sāmoan language and identity, it helps you feel good about yourself. How does this work? When you can speak your language, you will feel stronger in your identity as a Sāmoan. This gives you confidence in yourself and confidence helps you feel good. Don’t worry if you don’t know many words yet, try to practice the ones that you have everyday!

Did you know there is such a thing as ‘ancestral language’ ?

Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III in front of the Mau office in Vaimoso village, near Apia, 1929. by Alfred James Tattersall. Ref: PAColl-0691-2. Alexander Turnbull Library.

Sāmoan ancestral language included symbols, signs, environmental landmarks, events and gestures. These may be the same that the ancestors used hundreds of years ago. They are an important part of Sāmoan history, even though sometimes they can be intangible, which means things that maybe difficult to touch, or record. Be proud of your language that was created and grown by our ancestors.

Here’s a cool free activity book from Te Papa! See if you can discover some ancestral language in it.

Be proud of your spiritual language

The Sāmoan language is such an important part of our churches and is nurtured in church programmes and activities such as Sunday school, youth groups, choirs and church services. The church plays an important role in ensuring the Sāmoan language thrives, and that Sāmoan people are proud of their language.

You could meet Suliana Vea from the Alexander Turnbull Library!

To celebrate Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa your family can join Suliana Vea from the Alexander Turnbull Library and Ulu Afaese from Digital Pasifik to explore the Sāmoan collections held at the Library, on Thursday 1 June 2023, 5:45pm to 6:45pm! If don’t already know about these collections, they are awesome! You can also find out how you can contribute to the Digital Pasifik website. Why not ask your whanau if they will take you?

Find out more here: Sāmoan Collections Event, National Library.

Be proud of your language in your families

Pride in Gagana Sāmoa, Sāmoan language, begins in the home. The family is the first classroom for Sāmoans. We are first taught in our homes how to speak and show respect to elders and others. You learn how to invite people to eat, as well as know how to acknowledge gifts of food that people bring with them. Be proud of your family!

Be proud of your written language

As our world changes, Gagana Sāmoa also needs to adapt and change. Our written language is now becoming more valued in schools, workplaces, places of worship, and many other areas of our lives. It is a wonderful thing to learn how to read, understand, speak and write Gagana Sāmoa. Be proud of your written language and you can teach your friends! Come and have a look at our new Sāmoan books in the Library. There are more and more Sāmoan authors writing and publishing more books everyday! Maybe you could grow up to write your own!

Check out this super cool website Digital Pasifik which is taking the Sāmoan Language and culture in the future!

Get your younger brothers and sisters and listen to a storytime!

Here is a storytime in English and Gagana Sāmoa, How Do You Say ‘Thank You’? by Karamia Müller. Many thanks to the publisher Beatnik Publishing for allowing us to share this story!

Lewis Ioane made this video when he worked for Wellington City Libraries and now he works at the Porirua City Libraries!

Find Out More:

Samoan Language Week 2023 – Wellington City Libraries Blog a marvellous all-ages blog post by our librarian colleague Hibiscus Tupua-Wilson, from our news blog.
Ministry of Pacific Peoples has a huge range of information and resources for Sāmoa Language Week.
Check out what NZ schools are doing over on curriculum online.
Here’s a cool free activity book from Te Papa!
The official Gagana Sāmoa i Aotearoa Facebook Page
This is an older cool blog from the National Library by Samuel Beyer, which has links to more resources.

You can also visit your local library and borrow some amazing books to learn more about Sāmoan culture, and practice the language. All our libraries have Sāmoan books but Te Whare Pukapuka o Omārōrō Newtown Library has the biggest collection! If you don’t have a library card- you can sign up for free. If you are worried about fines – just talk to the staff, they can help.

Awesome Sāmoan books in our collection:

Losi the Giant fisherman : Samoan myths and legends pick a path collection / Malaeulu, Dahlia
Losi the Giant was the greatest fisherman across all the moana. A mischievous and loyal friend to sea creatures and all humans, Losi will always be remembered as the hero who brought taro, the food of the Gods’, to Earth.

Author and Publisher Dahlia Malaeulu lives in Wellington and has written and published lots of Sāmoan books. You can read her blog about how Losi the Giant fisherman was shaped by her son Mase who has Autism.

Available from Mila’s Books!

Also, read this really interesting article on the Spinoff!

Sāmoan heroes / Riley, David
“A collection of inspirational stories of achievers who have Sāmoan ancestry. It includes: contemporary heroes like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Troy Polamalu, Judge Ida Mālosi, Savage and Associate Professor Donna Adis; historical figures like Emma Coe, Tamasese, Salamāsina and Lauaki; legends like Sina, Tiʻitiʻi and Tigilau”–Back cover.” (Catalogue). Also available as an eBook.

Fanene Peter Maivia : son of Sāmoa / Riley, David
“Fanene Peter Maivia – Son of Sāmoa is the remarkable story of the first Polynesian to become a star of professional wrestling. Fanene’s life began in Sāmoa and he took Sāmoa to the world. He was a pioneer who inspired some of the greatest wrestlers the world has known, including his own grandson, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.”–Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue). Also available as an eBook.

Brush up on your geography and history with…

Sāmoa / Aiono-Iosefa, Sarona
“Did you know that the English word ‘tattoo’ is supposedly derived from the Sāmoan word ‘tatau’? Find out about the traditional methods still used by Sāmoans to apply the amazing tattoos worn by many of the islands’ people today. In this book you will discover that an ‘ie toga is a beautiful and intricate fine mat, woven by Sāmoan women and used as highly prized gifts, which are made and given to celebrate important occasions. You can also study the climate, population, social structure and political history of the thirteen islands that make up the beautiful countries of American Sāmoa and independent Sāmoa (formerly Western Sāmoa).” (Catalogue).

Sāmoa & Tuvalu / Guile, Melanie
This book contains information about the history, culture and people of Sāmoa and nearby Tuvalu. A great book to have just in time for Sāmoan Language week.
Learn some simple words and phrases

Tālofa lava: Hello (formal)
Mālō le soifua: Hello/Good health
‘O ā mai ‘oe? How are you? (to one person only)
Manuia fa‘afetai: Good, thank you
Manuia le aso: Have a great day
Tōfā soifua: Good bye (formal)

Faʻafetai lava ma ʻia manuia tele le Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa!

Thank you and have a very blessed Sāmoan Language Week

Gasav Ne Fäeag Rotuạm Ta: Rotuman Language Week 2023

Zoe Miller8 May, 2023 0 Comments

Noaʻia ʻe mḁuri gagaj ʻatakoa! Welcome to Gasav Ne Fäeag Rotuạm Ta | Rotuman Language Week 2023.

Download a Rotuman Language Week Poster!

What is Rotuman Language Week?

Rotuman Language Week is the first in a series of Pasifika Language Weeks that are celebrated in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

New Zealand is the only country in the world where the languages and culture of our Pasifika cousins are celebrated. Fäeag Rotuạm, the Rotuman language, is the first of nine Pasifika language weeks this year, and it runs from the 7th May – 13th May 2023.

Where is Rotuma you ask? The main island of Rotuma is about 13km by 4km and is about 580km from Fiji’s capital, Suva. Rotuma is a dependency of Fiji, so Rotumans will usually speak Fijian and English too! There are about 2000 Rotumans living on the island, and 10,000 living in mainland Fiji and globally.

More information about Rotuma Day and the history of Routma can be read or listened to in this article from Radio NZ.

This year’s theme for Gasav Ne Fäeag Rotuạm Ta is:

Vetḁkia ‘os Fäega ma Ag fak hanua – Sustaining our Language and Culture.

In these times, when it sometimes it feels like things are just moving too fast, we think this is a wonderful idea to reflect on.

We interviewed Kelly, a librarian who works in the South East branches and is also a proud Rotuman woman. Check out our instagram page to watch the reels: Wellington City Libraries Instagram

So how do you speak Rotuman?

Well, Rotumans roll their ‘R’s and pronounce ‘G’ with a smooth ‘ing’ sound, similar to how ‘ng’ is pronounced in te reo Māori.

Here are some key phrases in Rotuman [Row-too-man]:
• Noa’ia [Noah-e-yah]= Hello, greetings.
• Ka ‘äe tapen? [Car eh tar-pen] = How are you?
• Gou lelei fḁiåksia [Ngou leh-lay for-yak-see-yah] = I am well thank you.
• Figalelei [Fee-nga-leh-lay] = Please
• Fḁiåksia [Foyak-see-yah] = Thank you
• Hanis ma röt’åk [Hah-niece mah röt-ack] = Sorry
• La’ ma ḁlalum [Lah mah aw-lah-loom] = Goodbye (only to those leaving)
• Fu’ ma ḁlalum [Foo mah aw-lah-loom] = Goodbye (only to those staying)

Find more words and phrases in this language guide produced by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.

The Ministry for Pacific Peoples provides great resources and information about our Pasifika languages and cultural events. Visit the official NZ Rotuman Language Week Facebook page, and the official website, for more information about Rotuman Language Week 2022!

Eid Mubarak! Happy Eid!

Zoe Miller18 April, 2023 0 Comments

As Salaamu Alaykum & Eid Mubarak to our Muslim whānau!

What is Islam?

Ramadan and Eid are important events in the religion called Islam. People who follow Islam are called Muslims. Did you know there are about 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide? Islam is the second biggest religion in the world, after Christianity!

Why is it good to learn about Islam?

A local Muslim family celebrating Eid al-Fitr at Newtown Library

As the world comes together and people mix more and more, it’s good to learn about religions and cultures that maybe different to your own. You may be Muslim yourself, have a Muslim friend, or classmate, or you may not know any Muslims. But we can all learn more about Islam. Like many religions, Islam has lots of ancient wisdom and practices that help its followers to be peaceful and kind people.

Libraries are great places to learn the basic facts about religions, cultures, important celebrations and special days.

Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr

Ramadan is one of the most sacred times of the year for Muslims. During this month Muslims are expected to fast from dawn until sunset, pray, give charity and spend time with family. Generally, it is a time spent being quiet and reflecting on Allah (God). Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, a celebration that marks the end of the fasting. In Arabic it means ‘Holiday of Breaking the Fast’. It is also a holiday where sharing food is very important. Yum!

Did you know there are two Eid celebrations? Eid al-Fitr is always the first one in the year and it is usually around May or June. The other Eid is called Eid al-Adha and happens around July or August.

Eid in Aotearoa New Zealand

In Aotearoa New Zealand 2023, Eid Day will fall on either Saturday 22nd or Sunday 23rd of April – it all depends on the sighting of the moon. Traditionally, Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon. Everyone needs to give money to charity (meaning to people who are poor or needy) which is called Zakat-ul-Fitr. After that there is a special ‘Eid prayer’.

This year there is a big celebration happening in Wellington on the 22nd of April, organised by the Eid Day Trust. Everyone can go and join in the fun. You can find out more on their Facebook page.

Celebration Collection

In the Library we have a new Celebration Collection for Ramadan and Eid. This means we have a lot of beautiful new books about Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr that are available at this time of the year.

During Ramadan some of the books have even been staying at mosques around Wellington City!

As part of this special collection, we have over 60 books about Ramadan and Eid written by Muslim authors, as well as many books with Muslim characters. These books are for kids of all ages, from babies all the way up to intermediate-aged readers.

Please do come into our libraries and see our beautiful new books. Eid Mubarak!

Children’s books about Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

The proudest blue : a story of hijab and family / Muhammad, Ibtihaj
“Faizah relates how she feels on the first day her sister, sixth-grader Asiya, wears a hijab to school.” (Catalogue)
In my mosque / Yuksel, M. O.
“A picture book featuring culturally rich artwork celebrates the joys, rituals, and traditions that are practiced in mosques throughout the world, and includes a glossary and information about many historical and significant mosques.” (Catalogue)
Aya and the butterfly / Salama, Maysoon
“Aya and her grandad grow swan plants in their garden. Dedicated to the children and whānau of the Aotearoa New Zealand Muslim community, whose lives were changed forever on 15 March 2019.” (Catalogue)
Once upon an Eid : stories of hope and joy by 15 Muslim voices
“Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it’s waking up to the sound of frying samosas and simmering pistachio kheer, maybe it’s the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it’s the gift giving and holiday parties to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
Like the moon loves the sky / Khan, Hena
“Illustrations and prose inspired by the Quran celebrate a mother’s love and hopes for her child.” (Catalogue)
Sadiq / Nuurali, Siman (series)
“When Sadiq’s father leaves on a business trip, he worries he’ll miss his baba too much. But Baba has a story for Sadiq: the story of the Desert Star. Learning about Baba’s passion for the stars sparks Sadiq’s interest in outer space. But can Sadiq find others who are willing to help him start the space club of his dreams?” (Catalogue entry for Sadiq and the Desert Star)
Planet Omar / Mian, Zanib (series)
“Welcome, readers, to the imaginative brain of Omar! You might not know me yet, but once you open the pages of this book you’ll laugh so hard that snot will come out of your nose (plus you might meet a dragon and a zombie – what more could you want?). My parents decided it would be a good idea to move house AND move me to a new school at the same time. As if I didn’t have a hard enough time staying out of trouble at home, now I’ve also got to try and make new friends. […] The only good thing is that Eid’s just around the corner which means a feast of all my favourite food (YAY) and presents (DOUBLE YAY).” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Community languages

Please note: We also have books in different community languages about Islam, Ramadan and Eid, including Arabic, Farsi, Somali and Bahasa Malaysia.

Please do come into our libraries and see our beautiful new books. Eid Mubarak!

Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga: Tonga Language week 2022

Zoe Miller5 September, 2022

Mālō e lelei!

We are excited to tell you this week is Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga, Tonga Language Week, from Sunday 4^th September to Saturday 10^th September.

This year, the theme is Ke Tu’uloa ‘a e lea faka-Tönga′ ‘i Aotearoa, Sustaining the Tonga Language in Aotearoa.

A series of activities and events will be running for the whole week. To find out more click the button below:

About Tonga

The Kingdom of Tonga has more than 170 islands! Some of the islands are the peaks of undersea volcanoes! Other Tongan islands are atolls, or islands in which coral reefs surround a shallow pool of water. Only 36 of the islands have people living on them.

The population in Tonga is around 100,000 people, 70% of whom reside on the main island, Tongatapu.

The islands are divided into three main groups: Tongatapu in the south, Ha‘apai in the center, and Vava‘u in the north. There are also isolated islands in the far north (the Niuas island group) and in the far south (‘Ata).

There are two official languages, Tonga and English.

The distance between New Zealand and Tonga is around 2,382km and it takes about three and a half hours to fly there.

At the 2018 census, 82,389 people living in Aotearoa NZ identified themselves as being part of the Tongan ethnic group. Head over to Te Ara Encyclopedia to learn more about Tonga identities and cultural contributions in Aotearoa!

Basic Tonga Greetings

Mālō e lelei – Greetings / Hello

Mālō e lelei – Greetings Everyone

‘Okú ke fēfē hake? – How are you (singular)?

‘Oku ou sai pē, mālō – I am fine, thank you

New FREE Tonga Language Learning App

Check out this new app ‘MA’AU: Learn through Bathtime’. You can learn Tonga, Gāgāna Sāmoa and Fijian languages. There are songs, quizzes and colouring!

Picture of tongan boy with soap bubbles and the word bathtime above

Learning Tongan Language through bathtime

If you want to learn more about them you can visit their website. https://maau.co.nz/

You can also read the book; Learning Tongan through bathtime.

Books

Visit your local library and have a look at our amazing books to learn more about Tonga cultures and practice the language in the Tonga collection for kids. All our branch libraries have children’s collections in Tonga language.

If you don’t have a library card, you can sign up for free!

Rise of the To’a / Tatafu, ‘Alisi
“Describes the culture behind the Tongan national rugby league team, Kau To’a, Mate Ma’a Tonga, MMT, and features profiles on each of the players. Also tells the fictional story of Toko, who overcomes his fears and grows in self confidence.” (Catalogue)

How Tonga got its name = Ko e founga hono ma’u ‘e Tonga ‘a hono hingoa / Riley, David
“Maui threw his line and hook into the ocean. He felt the hook catch onto something huge and heavy. “Wow, it’s beautiful!” Maui said. What amazing sight did Maui see in the ocean that day?” (Catalogue)

Fish for mufti day : a story from the Islands of Tonga / MacGregor, Jill
“To raise money for the Mufti Day donation Siokatame and his friends collect seafood and sell it to people in their village.” (Catalogue)
The secret cave = Koe ‘ana fakapulipulí / Riley, David
“Naua was an expert fisherman who found an underwater cave. Naua had a feeling his cave would be helpful one day. And so it did. Find out what happened in The Secret Cave – Koe ‘Ana Fakapulupuli, a Tongan legend retold by David Riley”–Back cover.” (Catalogue)

Of course you can! = ‘Io te′ ke lava / Hinge, Karen
“Jeremy is starting at a new school. He’s not too sure about how he will fit in. But the other students make him welcome and every time he thinks he can’t do something they say … “Of course you can!” That is until the day they go to the swimming pool.”–Back cover” (Catalogue)

That’s a wrap! Let’s enjoy the Tonga Language Week 2022 together! Mālō ‘aupito.

Te ‘Epetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani: Cook Islands Language Week 2022

Zoe Miller2 August, 2022

Kia Orāna! It’s Te ʻEpetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ʻĀirani | Cook Islands Language Week 2022!

Pacific Language Weeks are about all New Zealanders learning more about Pacific people that make up a big part of our population and are some of our closest neighbours!

The overarching theme for the 2022 Pacific Language Weeks is sustainability. Cook Islands Language Week has been celebrated every year in Aotearoa since 2012, with events running this year from Sunday 31st July to Saturday 6th August.

This year’s theme is:

‘Ātuitui’ia au ki te Oneone o tōku ‘Ui Tupuna | Connect me to the soil of my ancestors.

Help us celebrate this special time for the community by learning more about the unique culture, language and history of the Cook Islands through the information, books, and other resources below!

Where are the Cook Islands?

They are located in the South Pacific neighbouring Sāmoa, Niuē and French Polynesia. There are 15 islands altogether with a total land area of 240 square kilometres.

How many people speak Cook Islands Māori, and where do they live?

Te Reo Māori Kūki ʻĀirani (Cook Islands Māori) refers to several dialects (slightly different versions of the same language) spoken in the Cook Islands, with the most common language dialect being spoken in Rarotonga. In New Zealand, about 80,500 people are Cook Islanders, or of Cook Islands descent. Peoples of Cook Islands descent make up a significant portion of Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) and Aotearoa’s Pasifika population, with significant numbers living in our Northern suburbs and nearby Porirua. (Source: 2018 Census)

Why are they called the Cook Islands?

The area was first settled around 1000CE by Polynesian people who probably came from Tahiti, which is where the famous navigator Tupaia would come from over 700 years later. You can learn more about Tupaia here: Tupaia | Te Ara Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. They gave the islands names like Rarotonga, Aitutaki, and Rakahanga.

The first European contact with the islands took place in 1595, but the Cook Islands name comes from the British navigator Captain James Cook, who arrived first in 1773 and again in 1777. Strangely enough, the name ‘Cook Islands’ first appeared on a Russian map in the 1820s.

There is still a lot of debate today about whether the Cook Islands should take a new name that reflects the Polynesian history and heritage of the area. Visit Britannica Online to learn more about the history and people of the Cook Islands: Cook Islands | Encyclopaedia Britannica

Books

Visit your local library and have a look at our amazing books to learn more about Cook Islands cultures and practice the language. At Newtown Library we also stock the Cook Islands News.
If you don’t have a library card, you can sign up for free!

Te ‘anga’anga ‘ōu ‘ā māmā = Mum’s new job / Tainui, Bronwyn
“Tiāki finds it difficult when his mother goes back to work, but discovers it is fun to help out at home by making lunch.” (Catalogue)

Kua kitea ‘a māmā = Finding mum / Long, Don
“In the supermarket, a little boy retraces his footsteps in order to find his mum.” (Catalogue)

Cook Islands heroes / Riley, David
“Cook Islands Heroes tells the inspirational stories of achievers who have Cook Islands ancestry. It includes legends like Ina, Maui, Ngaru and Ru; historical figures such as […] Alistair Te Ariki Campbell; and contemporary heroes Kevin Iro […] The book is written to inspire young Cook Islanders, to encourage reading and promote literacy.” (Publisher description)

‘Ei for the day / MacGregor, Jill
“Yvette and Kiikii wear an ‘ei and an ‘ei katu when their dance group performs at the Saturday Morning Market in Rarotonga.” (Catalogue)

Also, visit this link to find even more children’s books in Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani at your local library.

More Resources

This is a good time to learn some Te Reo Māori Kūki ʻĀirani. Here are some useful phrases to help get started. Pronunciation is mostly similar to Te Reo Māori – so don’t be shy, give it a go!

Kia orāna – Greetings/Hello
ʻAere rā / ʻĒ noʻo rā – Goodbye (to those going/to those staying)
ʻInē? – Please
Meitaki maʻata – Thank you very much
Tatarāʻara – Sorry
Inā ake ana – Excuse me
Pēʻea koe/kōrua/kōtou? – How are you?
Meitaki maʻata au/māua/mātou – I am/We are well

There are lots of cool things happening across the country to celebrate this time. For more information on events and ideas on how to celebrate, visit these websites:

Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa 2022

Zoe Miller31 May, 2022

Tālofa Lava!

Sāmoa Language Week | Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa will be celebrated this year from Sunday, 29 May 2021 until Saturday, 4th June 2022. This is a chance for all New Zealanders to celebrate Sāmoan language, Sāmoan culture in New Zealand and around the world, and promote the use of Sāmoan language in schools, at work and at home.

Did you know that nearly 4% of New Zealanders are Sāmoan? That’s almost 200,000 people! Gagana Sāmoa is the 3^rd most spoken language in Aotearoa, New Zealand!

Sāmoa has a unique historical relationship with New Zealand. It is the only country that New Zealand has a Treaty of Friendship. The Treaty of Friendship between Sāmoa and New Zealand is like a mutual project to support Tagata Sāmoa (Sāmoan people) to have better opportunities. Being proud of your language is such an important part of feeling proud of your culture.

This year’s theme for Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa is:

Fa’aāuāu le Folauga i le Va’a o Tautai – Continue the Voyage with Competent Wayfinders of the Ocean.

2022 is also a significant year for the Samoan community, being the 60th anniversary of Samoa Independence. Communities are organising activities to commemorate this milestone, which coincides with Samoa Language Week.

Events for Samoa Language Week

As part of Samoa Language Week, there will be a Pasifika Pool Party! Find out more about the council events here.

Our friend the wonderful librarian Lewis from Johnsonville Library presents a special story in English and Gagana Sāmoa, How Do You Say ‘Thank You’? by Karamia Müller. Many thanks to the publisher Beatnik Publishing for allowing us to share this story!