Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa | Sāmoa Language Week 2023!

Zoe Miller29 May, 2023

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

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

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!

新年快乐

wcl staff19 January, 2023

Read this post in English!

在即将来临的星期日（1月22日），许多国家与地区将会庆祝一年一度的农历新年。这些国家包括了中国、北韩、南韩、越南、新加坡、马来西亚、泰国、印度尼西亚、菲律宾，和世界上各个国家的唐人街。大家都将以各自的文化和习俗来庆祝这意义重大的传统节日。新西兰也将举办许多大大小小的活动！而农历是一种以月亮的圆缺变化循环为依据的日历。

Chinese New Year Display and books in Chinese languages at Johnsonville Library.

Library events:

Lunar New Year Mandarin Storytime —10.30-11.00am, Tuesday 24 January

Te Awe Library, 29B Brandon Street, Wellington

为了庆祝农历新年，提亚威图书馆将于年初三，1月24日（星期二）早上10.30至11时举办中文普通话故事时间

Lunar New Year Storytime — Tuesday, 31 January 10:30am

Johnsonville Library, 34 Moorefield Road, Johnsonville

欢迎参加Johnsonville图书馆组织的迎中国新年活动. 我们将用普通话, 福建话和英语讲述有趣的故事, 和以歌曲等形式开展与孩子们的互动活动

今年，2023年为兔年。在十二生肖里，兔子是排行第四的属相。十二生肖的传说中，兔子是一只有一点点小骄傲的动物。它对它自己跑得很快的速度引以为傲，并经常嘲笑它的邻居，牛，总是慢吞吞的。有一天，玉皇大帝为了找出一个可以简单计算年份的方法，而找了十二只动物比赛赛跑。兔子也参加了这项比赛，并早早就到达了比赛现场。因为对自己的速度很有信心，兔子决定先睡个午觉。结果等它醒来时，已经有三只动物越过终点线了！其中牛还得到了第二名！等兔子匆匆忙忙地跑过终点时，它只获得了第四名。此外，兔子也经常被描绘成一只很善良，很有自信的小动物。也许偶尔会有点严肃，但兔子也是很感性，会努力地朝着目标前进。更多关于兔年的资料，可以浏览 Year of the Rabbit (chinesenewyear.net)

Artist impression of Bánh chưng and bánh tét wrapped up for cooking.

在越南，农历新年被称作为“元旦节”（Tết Nguyên Đán）。越南人将会穿上传统服装，并准备许多美味的食物像是Bánh chưng 和bánh tét来庆祝这重要的节日。Bánh chưng 和bánh tét都是一种用糯米，绿豆和猪肉做成的越南粽子，差别在于Bánh chưng是使用一种称为“lá dong”的叶子包成正方形，而bánh tét则用香蕉叶包成圆柱形，并在食用时会切成轮形。

Artist impression of hanbok.

在南韩和北韩，农历新年被称为“Seollal”（설날）。在这一天，他们会穿上韩服，吃可口美味的传统食物，玩有趣的传统游戏，以传统习俗来庆祝春节。

在马来西亚，其他种族，像是马来人和印度人，也会和当地华人一起欢庆农历新年。你可以对马来西亚人（或称作大马人）说“新年快乐”，“Happy New Year”，或者是“Selamat Tahun Baru Cina”，即马来文的“新年快乐”。因为有着在除夕前夜一家人整整齐齐地围着餐桌吃“团圆饭”的传统，在外工作读书的华人都会赶在除夕前夜，或称年三十晚前回家。小孩子或未婚的晚辈都会在年初一时从长辈那里收到代表着祝福的红包。在收到红包时，除了说谢谢，小孩子和晚辈也会对长辈说一些代表吉祥如意的祝福语，像是“身体健康”、“恭喜发财”、“出入平安”等等。

更多关于其他国家庆祝农历新年的方式，你可以浏览https://www.thoughtco.com/search?q=lunar+new+year，也可以借阅以下关于农历新年的书本。

The 12 days of Lunar New Year / Lettice, Jenna
12种庆祝农历新年的方法！这本书很可爱地描绘了一系列从年初一到年十二，一家人如何以传统文化的方式庆祝农历新年。相信无论大人还是小孩都会喜欢上这本有趣又有意义的童书。 ” (Abridged and translated from catalogue)
Lunar New Year / Eliot, Hannah
这本书介绍了什么是农历新年，解释了包括食物，装饰，和节庆活动游戏等相关知识。 ” (Translated from catalogue)

Happy Chinese New Year! : A Festive Counting Story / Ho, Jannie
一起来看看十二生肖如何准备庆祝农历新年！可爱有趣的图案，作者以童趣的方式介绍了每一只生肖小动物为了农历新年做了什么特别的准备！” (Abridged and translated from catalogue)

Korean celebrations : festivals, holidays and traditions / Cho, Tina
“这本书介绍了韩国的各种节庆，让你能够了解韩国的传统节日，庆祝方式和美味的食物！ .” (Abridged and translated from catalogue)
Vietnamese children’s favorite stories / Tran, Phuoc Thi Minh

一系列有趣优美的故事告诉读者越南人注重的五个品德，分别是Nhan (慈悲)、Le (礼节)、Nghia (正义)、Tri (智慧)、和Tin (信任)。其中一个特别的小故事也告诉读者为什么不能够在Tết Nguyên Đán时扫地。

Lunar New Year Around The World: Celebrate The Most Colourful Time Of The Year / Li, Amanda
读者能够了解世界各国如何庆祝农历新年。 (Translated from catalogue)

Home for Chinese New Year : a story told in English and Chinese / Wei, Jie
农历新年时一家人团聚的节日。Jia Jun的爸爸总是常年在外工作。现在爸爸终于要回家了…… (Abridged and translated from catalogue)

威灵顿图书馆有许多童书和双语书籍，能够让小孩子了解不同文化！

Photograph by our blog author’s family of celebrations in Maylasia!

Thanks folks, Gong Xi Fa Cai” 恭喜发财 – May you be happy and prosperous!

– Blog by Wei Jing & Joseph

Happy Lunar New Year!

wcl staff19 January, 2023

Read this post in Mandarin

This year on Sunday, 22 January many countries and communities celebrate Lunar New Year, which is the calendar based on the monthly cycles of the Moon’s phases! There are Lunar New Year festivals and celebrations in China, North Korea, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, in Chinatowns all around the world, and there are plenty of local events to celebrate in Aoteaora New Zealand too!

Chinese New Year Display and books in Chinese languages at Johnsonville Library.

Library Events

Lunar New Year Mandarin Storytime —10.30-11.00am, Tuesday 24 January

Te Awe Library, 29B Brandon Street, Wellington

To celebrate the 2023 Chinese New Year, Te Awe is going to have a Mandarin storytime on the Tuesday 24 January!

为了庆祝农历新年，提亚威图书馆将于年初三，1月24日（星期二）早上10.30至11时举办中文普通话故事时间

Lunar New Year Storytime — Tuesday, 31 January 10:30am

Johnsonville Library, 34 Moorefield Road, Johnsonville

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with stories, songs, and rhymes in Mandarin, Hokkien, and English.

欢迎参加Johnsonville图书馆组织的迎中国新年活动. 我们将用普通话, 福建话和英语讲述有趣的故事, 和以歌曲等形式开展与孩子们的互动活动

About the Lunar New Year

2023 is the Year of the Rabbit, in the Chinese zodiac. The rabbit is the fourth zodiac animal. He was a bit arrogant about how fast he was! He used to tease his neighbour, the Ox for being slow. But one day, the Jade Emperor organised a party to determine the order of the zodiac, in order of who arrived first. The Rabbit arrived early, so he decided to go away and take a nap. When he woke up three other animals had beat him to the party, including the Ox! The rabbit is associated with kindness, quiet confidence and earnestness, which means rabbit might appear quite serious, but always moves forward with feeling and purpose. You can learn more by visiting Year of the Rabbit – Chinese Zodiac on chinesenewyear.net

Artist impression of Bánh chưng and bánh tét wrapped up for cooking.

In Vietnam, Lunar New Year is marked by the Tết Nguyên Đán festival, which is associated with lots of important customs and wonderful foods! Bánh chưng and bánh tét are some of the tasty festival cuisines, made from glutinous rice, mung beans, pork. Bánh chưng is cooked in squares wrapped in lá dong leaves, and bánh tét is cooked in cylinders wrapped in banana leaves, which is then cut into wheel-shaped slices.

Artist impression of hanbok.

In South Korea and North Korea, Lunar New Year is known as Seollal and is celebrated through important traditions, games, food and often by wearing the beautiful colourful hanbok, which are usually worn on special occasions.

In Malaysia, Chinese people and other ethnic groups like Malay and Indian also celebrate Lunar New Year together. You can say “Selamat Tahun Baru Cina” to a Malaysian which means “Happy Chinese New Year” in Malay. Chinese people will have a reunion dinner on the Lunar New Year’s Eve. the children will receive “ang pao”, red envelopes with money inside, on the first day of the Lunar New Year from the elderly people, represent a kind of blessing and good luck. In return, children need to say some good words back to the elderly people, like stay healthy, stay happy, and “wishing you safety all the time

You can learn more about Lunar New Year is celebrated in other countries by reading some great articles from the list of lunar new year articles from ThoughtCo.com, and by checking out some of the wonderful books listed below.

Books

The 12 days of Lunar New Year / Lettice, Jenna
“Count out twelve ways to celebrate Lunar New Year!… This cheery addition to the 12 Days series celebrates tradition, culture, and family in the lead-up to Lunar New Year! Young readers and their caregivers will enjoy counting all the different ways they can engage with their communities and honour their ancestors…” (Abridged from catalogue)
Lunar New Year / Eliot, Hannah
“Introduces Lunar New Year, describing the food, decorations, and activities of the holiday.” (Catalogue)

Happy Chinese New Year! : A Festive Counting Story / Ho, Jannie
“Count to twelve with the zodiac animals as they get ready to celebrate Chinese New Year! Sweet, colorful illustrations introduce each of the zodiac animals as they bring special items to the celebration. Xīn Nián Kuài Lè! Happy Chinese New Year! The zodiac animals are ready to celebrate Chinese New Year with traditions and a big feast! Little ones can count to twelve as each animal prepares for the holiday…” (Abridged from catalogue)

Korean celebrations : festivals, holidays and traditions / Cho, Tina
“Korean Celebrations takes young readers on an exciting exploration of Korea’s colorful festivals and family celebrations–wonderful days that are filled with exciting activities and delicious foods.” (Abridged from catalogue)
Vietnamese children’s favorite stories / Tran, Phuoc Thi Minh

One of the special stories in this book explains why you shouldn’t sweep the house on Tết Nguyên Đán! Along with this story of Lunar New Year, there is a collection of wonderful stories connected to five great virtues of Vietnam: Nhan (Compassion), Le (Rituals), Nghia (Righteousness), Tri (Wisdom), and Tin (Trust).

Lunar New Year Around The World: Celebrate The Most Colourful Time Of The Year / Li, Amanda
“Find out all about Lunar New Year and how it is celebrated in different communities across the world!” (Catalogue)

Home for Chinese New Year : a story told in English and Chinese / Wei, Jie
“The Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions. This Chinese children’s story tells a delightful trip with lots of cultural details along the way! Jia Jun’s Dad worked out of town all year around. Now it’s time for him to come home…” (Abridged from catalogue)

Wellington City Libraries has children’s books and bilingual editions available in community languages from many different cultures!

Photograph by our blog author’s family of celebrations in Malaysia!

Gong Xi Fa Cai” 恭喜发财 — May you be happy and prosperous!

– Blog by Wei Jing & Joseph

World Arabic Language Day 2022!

wcl staff16 December, 2022

السلام عليكم

The 18th of December marks the United Nations Arabic Language Day. Did you know that there are over 300 million native Arabic speakers worldwide? This makes the Arabic language one of the most widely spoken languages in the word.

Arabic is spoken by a diverse range of people across the African continent and the Middle East, including Sudan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, and many more. There are also people who live in New Zealand who come from these countries, or whose parents or grandparents come from these countries.

Continue reading →

Festive Family Fun at Your Library!

Stephen Clothier8 December, 2022

Meri Kirihimete, Pōneke!

It’s that time of year again! The festive season for many is just around the corner, which means our libraries (and librarians!) are getting ready to celebrate with stories, songs, teddy bear sleepovers, and of course a whole bunch of books. So why not grab the family, jump in your fuzziest pyjamas (or cheeriest Christmas costume) and head on down to your local library to join in on the fun?

All of our Festive Family Fun events have a slightly different flavour depending on where they’re happening, but in general you can expect to enjoy stories, songs, crafts, and maybe even a visit from a certain portly gentleman at some locations! Stories from all over the world and in different languages also feature at our special trilingual event at Newtown Library. Visit each event link below to find out more.

In addition to the events below, all of our libraries will have beautiful displays of special holiday books from our Celebration Collection. These books will be on the shelf for a limited time only, so make sure to grab your copies today!

What’s on for the December holidays?

Monday 12 December

Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library, 3.30 – 4.30pm — Teddy Bears’ Christmas CRAFTerschool and Sleepover

Tuesday 13 December

Johnsonville Library, 3.30 – 4.30pm — Teddy Bears’ Christmas CRAFTerschool and Sleepover

Thursday 15 December

Wadestown Library, 6.00 – 6.30pm — Family Christmas Storytime

Friday 16 December

Ruth Gotlieb (Kilbirnie) Library, 5.30 – 6.00pm — Teddy Bears’ Christmas Sleepover

Saturday 17 December

Karori Library, 11.00am – 12.00pm — Family Christmas Storytime

Monday 19 December

Te Awe Library, 2.00 – 2.30pm — Festive Family Fun: Baby Rock and Rhyme

Tuesday 20 December

Newtown Library, 10.30 – 11.30am — Trilingual Storytime and Christmas Crafts!

Wednesday 21 December

Te Awe Library, 10.30 – 11.00am — Family Christmas Storytime

Thursday 22 December

Te Awe Library, 10.30 – 11.00am — Festive Family Fun: Baby Rock and Rhyme

Author Interview: Bill Nagelkerke

wcl staff27 October, 2022

Click this banner to go straight to the interview!

What better way to celebrate Halloween than checking out an interview with author Bill Nagelkerke about his spooky new children’s novel The Ghost House!

The Ghost House revolves around 13-year-old David, whose family has moved to a house on the edge of the Red Zone in Christchurch. When David ventures into the forbidden Red Zone he stumbles upon an old villa that survived the earthquakes! The house speaks to him and begs him to help.

Bill Nagelkerke has written short stories, poems, plays and books for all ages, as well as translating other people’s books from Dutch into English.

He has won the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award. His children’s book, The Ghosts on the Hill was a Storylines Notable Book and joint winner of the 2021 Storylines What Now Kids’ Pick Award.

The Ghost House is a poignant and eerie supernatural tale aimed at readers 8 – 13 years that carefully navigates the line between being deliciously spine tingling without ever crossing the line into becoming full out frightening. It is beautifully and evocatively written using very carefully chosen words and language to describe the settings and characters.

Click the above banner to go to the interview, or click here: https://www.mixcloud.com/wellingtoncitylibraries/bill-n/

This interview was done in conjunction with The Cuba Press, and Caffeine and Aspirin, the arts and entertainment review show on Radioactive FM. This interview was conducted by Neil Johnstone.

Find out more about Radioactive FM on their website!

You can reserve a library copy on our catalogue or buy your own copy through The Cuba Press! Check out the full range of titles by Cuba Press here!

Here’s some of Bill’s other books available at your library!

Stop the tour : the diary of Martin Daly, Christchurch, 1981 / Nagelkerke, Bill
“It is 1981 and Martin senses big trouble brewing at home. The South African rugby team has been invited to tour New Zealand. Martin’s sister, Sarah, is out to stop the tour in protest against South Africa’s apartheid system. His rugby-mad dad is equally determined that the tour should go ahead. Martin wishes the whole thing would simply go away … Then a new school leads to a new friendship, and Martin is faced with a choice. He can walk away or he can become involved in something that will end up being bigger than anybody could have predicted”–Back cover.” (Catalogue)
The ghosts on the hill / Nagelkerke, Bill
“The year is 1884. The place is Lyttelton, a small and bustling harbour town. Elsie is waiting for the fish to bite. She has her reasons for coming down to the waterfront so often, the main one being the memory of the lost boys. She was one of the last to see them alive, and now she is haunted by what happened to them. When the opportunity comes for Elsie to follow in their footsteps over the Bridle Path, and put their ghosts to rest, she doesn’t hesitate. ‘I’ll be careful,’ she says. But no one knows that the weather is about to change for the worse.”–Publisher information.” (Catalogue)

Emily the Dreadfuls and the Dead Skin Gang / Nagelkerke, Bill
“Emily, the hero of ‘Emily’s Penny Dreadful’, is back. She has an idea for a new ‘dreadful’ story, this time all about a group of burglars who call themselves the Dead Skin Gang. At the same time, Emily starts her own gang, the Dreadfuls. Her best friend Robin, isn’t too keen on joining, while Uncle Raymond doesn’t like all the noise the Dreadfuls make. But then the next door neighbour’s dog goes missing, and the Dreadfuls (and Uncle Raymond) have a job to do”–Back cover.” (Catalogue)
Old bones / Nagelkerke, Bill
“Jamie and his dad have lost the farm in the floods. But Dad’s new partner, Sue, doesn’t seem that upset by the destruction of the farm. The trio move into a large old house in the city, right beside the Avon. While the adults seem content to put their energies into the new house and circumstances, Jamie has a bad feeling about the house and is terrified of the closeness of the river. Something bad happened in this house, he just knows it. Suggested level: intermediate, junior secondary.” (Catalogue)

Kua tā te taimi? : ko he tala Hamoa mai Niu Hila / Nagelkerke, Bill
“Tua and his class are preparing for special visitors. While everyone is getting ready, Tua can’t stop asking, “Is it time yet?” Suggested level: junior, primary. Also available in Cook Islands Māori, Niue language, Sāmoan, and Tongan.” (Catalogue)

Diwali Festival of Lights 2022

wcl staff20 October, 2022

Our librarian Remya entertains at a Diwali Baby Rock and Rhyme at Newtown Library

According to the Hindu lunar calendar, around the month of either October or November the most celebrated festival around the world is Diwali – the festival of lights (also known as Deepavali, or दिवाली in the Hindi script).

It is said that the beginning of Diwali celebration started with the epic story of Ramayana. Prince Ram defeated the ten headed demon Ravana, who had kidnapped Ram’s wife Sita.

He then returned to the kingdom of Ayodhya on a night of the new moon, after fourteen years of exile with Sita. The people of Ayodhya welcomed Ram and Sita by lighting rows of oil lamps, celebrating the joyous occasion of having Ram as their future King.

Some of our Diwali displays at Miramar, Tawa, and Newtown Libraries!

The festival is celebrated as victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. On Diwali day lamps called rangoli are lit – decorative patterns created with colour sand or flowers – and people young and old wear new clothes, share sweets, and light fireworks. It is a festival of bringing people together, sharing, and caring for one another.

This year Diwali falls on Monday 24th October 2022! Celebrate with Wellington City Libraries and our special Diwali Celebration Collections!

Here are some books for you to check out!

Rama and Sita : the story of Diwali / Doyle, Malachy
“Rama and Sita live happily in the forest until Sita is abducted by the demon king Ravana. Can Rama rescue her – and who is the little white monkey who offers to help?” (Catalogue)

All about Diwali : things to make and do / Haddow, Swapna
“Diwali is one of India’s most significant holidays. This beautiful activity book book is filled with crafts and recipes, fun activities and facts about the Diwali celebrations observed by over one billion people across faiths. Read all about why Diwali is named the festival of lights and discover the stories behind it.” (Catalogue)

Shubh Diwali / Soundar, Chitra
“One family celebrates the Hindu festival of lights”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

The best Diwali ever / Shah, Sonali
“This year, Ariana has plans to make Diwali an extra special celebration, with yummy sweets, divas around the house, pretty clothes, fireworks and… the rangoli competition, of course. Everything would go perfectly to plan if it weren’t for Rafi, her annoying little brother, always up to mischief…and always being clumsy! Will he ruin Diwali too?”–Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Some Diwali books in Hindi or Tamil languages:

Dīpaka kī dibālī = Deepak’s Diwali / Karwal, Divya (Hindi)
“It’s the worst Diwali ever! Dad has forgotten the sparklers, the fairy lights are broken, and after hearing the story of Rama and Sita, Deepak is sure that the demon king, Ravana, is after him … Part of Mantra Lingua’s Celebration series, this warm contemporary story is interwoven with beautifully illustrated images from Hindu mythology. The book is packed with recipes and activities.” (Catalogue)

Amma kahe kahani Diwali / Mathur, Bhakti (Hindi)
“This is the Hindi version of ‘Amma tell me about Diwali!’ — www.Amazon.com” (Catalogue)

Tipakkin ti pavali = Deepak’s Diwali / Karwal, Divya (Tamil)
“It’s not shaping up to be a good Diwali so far: Dad has forgotten the sparklers, the fairy lights are broken, and, after hearing the story of Rama and Sita, Deepak is sure that Ravana the demon king is after him. Will Deepak’s Diwali be a washout or will the family’s celebration be rescued?” (Catalogue)

Online eBooks on Overdrive/Libby:

Baby’s first Diwali

“Clear pictures and simple read-aloud text introduce baby to Diwali, the festival of light.” (Catalogue)

It’s Diwali / Sehgal, Kabir
“Count along in celebration of Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights, in this luminous picture book from bestselling mother-son duo Surishtha and Kabir Sehgal. Count up to ten and back down again to the tune of “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” while learning about the traditions that make Diwali a fun-filled festival!” (Catalogue)

Rama and Sita : the story of Diwali / Doyle, Malachy
“Whether you’re looking for a Diwali gift or a simple introduction to the Diwali story to share with your children, this beautiful book, now reissued in a larger picture book format, is ideal.” (Abridged from catalogue)

Some short phrases in the Hindi language:

Namaste (नमस्ते) – Hello
Dhanyavad (धन्यवाद) – Thank you
Kaise ho aap? (कैसे हो आप?) – How are you?
Badia ho (बडिया हो) – I am well.

Learn more here!

Diwali — Encyclopaedia Britannica (oclc.org)

Macawa ni Vosa Vakaviti: Fijian Language Week 2022

Sasha3 October, 2022

Bula!

Fiji is a southwestern Pacific island nation located about 800 kilometres southwest of Samoa and 1,800 kilometres North of New Zealand. It is an archipelago (a group of islands) made up of several hundred islands. There are around 20,000 Fijian people living in Aotearoa!

Macawa ni Vosa Vakaviti – Fijian Language Week is Sunday 2 October – Saturday 8 October 2022

This is a chance to celebrate the Fijian language and culture in New Zealand and around the world! This year the theme is:

Me vakabulabulataki, vakamareqeti, ka vakaqaqacotaki na vosa vakaviti. | Nurture, preserve and sustain the Fijian language.

Celebrate Fijian Language week with workshops at Newlands Community Centre!

Wellington Fijian Language class invite children of primary and intermediate age to celebrate Fijian language with a free workshop of language, games, food and art! Learn some simple Fijian phrases, play some traditional games, learn how to do some Fijian weaving. There will be a lunch at 1pm, you are welcome to bring a plate to contribute. Parents and carers welcome. Please contact the centre to register – ph 04 4773724 or email newlandscc@wcc.govt.nz

Click the image to find out about more events here in Te Upoko-o-te-ika-a-Māui Wellington Region!

Here are some simple phrases to get you started speaking Fijian:

Ni sa bula vinaka – Greetings/Hello
Ni sa moce – vei kemuni na gole – Goodbye – to those who are leaving
Ni sa moce – vei kemuni na tiko – Goodbye – to those who are staying
Kerekere – Please
Vinaka vakalevu – Thank you

Special phrases to use in the library:

Au tiko ena vale ni vola
I am at the library

Au wili vola tiko
I am reading a book

You can learn some more simple Fijian phrases on the Ministry of Pacific Peoples Website here