Ethnic Diversity

New Programme: Cuentacuentos – Storytimes in Spanish

Isabel Echeverria

Buenas noticias! We are happy to announce a new programme called Cuentacuentos! These storytimes are delivered entirely in Spanish!

This is a perfect opportunity to practice your Spanish, so get ready for engaging storytelling and exciting activities that will entertain the whole whānau.

Starting from 2nd September, join us at Te Māhanga, Karori Library on the first Saturday of the month at 11am. Mark your calendar!

Books in Spanish

Whether you are a beginner or looking to expand your knowledge, we have got you covered! Wellington City Libraries are proud to offer a compelling collection of Spanish language materials, from books and magazines to language learning resources.

Follow the catalogue links to reserve the books you would like to the library branch of your choice! We have Spanish language books for young people and learners available at all of our library branches. The largest Spanish collections for young people are available at Karori Library, Johnsonville Library, Kilbirnie Library and Te Awe Brandon Library in the CBD.

For adult readers, we have large Spanish collections at Arapaki Manners Library, Johnsonville Library and Karori Library, with even more available to reserve!

Do you want to practice some phrases, read a story in Spanish? Check out these titles and get ready to say “estoy listo.”

First words

First words in Spanish / Grée, Alain
“Help your child to learn their first words in Spanish with this beautifully presented, interactive learning resource. Shown alongside colourful and appealing illustrations, the words are grouped into child-friendly themes such as colours, numbers, animals, food, holidays and shopping…” (Adapted from Catalogue)
Spanish
“Get the whole family prepared for and excited about an upcoming trip by learning 100 travel-relevant Spanish words – from food and transport, to animals and weather… The perfect first step in learning the Spanish language and encouraging children to be curious about the world around them.” (Adapted from catalogue)

Animales
“This illustrated book for little children stimulates learning the names of animals.” (Catalogue)

Chapter books

Diario del wimpy kid : Un renacuajo / Kinney, Jeff
“Greg records his sixth grade experiences in a middle school where he and his best friend, Rowley, undersized weaklings amid boys who need to shave twice daily, hope just to survive, but when Rowley grows more popular, Greg must take drastic measures to save their friendship.” (Catalogue)

Hombre Perro y Supergatito / Pilkey, Dav
“Hombre Perro está de regreso, ¡y esta vez lo acompaña un compinche felino! El dúo tendrá que salir al rescate de una glamorosa estrella de cine desaparecida. ¡Una aventura perfecta para Hombre Perro y Supergatito! When a new sitter arrives and a movie star goes missing, Dog Man and Cat Kid investigate…” (Catalogue)

All-time Classics

Un pez, dos peces, pez rojo, pez azul / Seuss
“A story-poem about the activities of such unusual animals as the Nook, Wump, Yink, Yop, Gack, and the Zeds.” (Catalogue)

Donde viven los monstruos / Sendak, Maurice
“A naughty little boy, sent to bed without his supper, sails to the land of the wild things where he becomes their king.” (Catalogue)

Originally in Spanish

A veces el bosque.. / Nogués Otero, Alex
“A veces el bosque canta y es canció n. Otras, duerme. A veces el bosque sueñ a con fuego o inventa la lluvia y los paraguas. El bosque a veces bromea. A veces, imagina que eres un gigante.Un libro para leer en la corteza de los á rboles y en los misterios de tu mirada.” (Catalogue)

Gilda : la oveja gigante / Urberuaga, Emilio
“Gilda, la oveja gigante, tiene que escapar de la montaña en la que vive. Al llegar a la gran ciudad vivirá una increíble aventura. Pero, ¿encontrará Gilda un nuevo hogar?” (Catalogue)

Gustavo : el fantasmita timido / Drago, Flavia Z
“Conoce a Gustavo. Él es un fantasma y como a cualquier ser paranormal le encanta hacer lo que le es normal: atravesar paredes, hacer volar objetos y brillar en la oscuridad. También le encanta tocar el violín. Pero Gustavo tiene un problema. Él es muy, muy tímido, y aunque su deseo más grande es tener amigos, nunca se ha atrevido a hablarle a ninguno de los monstruos en su pueblito. Con el Día de Muertos cerca, ¿se atreverá Gustavo a dejar que lo vean?” This picture book is about finding the courage to make friends.” (Catalougue).

Ready for your language adventure?  ¡nos vemos en la biblioteca!

Te ʻEpetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ʻĀirani 2023

Stephen Clothier

Kia orāna young readers, and welcome to Te ʻEpetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ʻĀirani | Cook Islands Language Week 2023!

We hope you’re excited to share and celebrate some of Aotearoa’s closest whānau with us.

Like Aotearoa, Kūki ʻĀirani is a single country made up of multiple islands – 15 in total. They have their own government but are in “free association” with New Zealand. This means that Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens, free to live and work here as they choose.

The theme of Te ʻEpetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ʻĀirani this year is:

‘Ātuitui’ia au ki te au peu o tōku kāinga ipukarea | Connect me to the traditions and culture of my homeland

And there’s a lot of culture to connect with!

A photo of a woman sitting on a woven harakeke mat, weaving a colourful mat.

Image: Woman sewing Tivaevae in Rarotonga by John Colles Burland. Alexander Turnbull Library Archive, Ref No. PA12-0503-20.

Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani (the Cook Islands Māori language) and traditional arts are still proudly shared throughout the islands. Cook Islanders are known for their woodworking skill and textiles, like the patterned Tivaevae quilt.

The Cook Islands are also known for an interesting musical history which has changed over time, mixing traditional music, church music, ukulele and electronic ukulele. Traditional Cook Islands music has a unique and powerful sound, using both wooden drums (lali/pātē) and skin drums (pahu/pa’u), wind instruments, and singing.

A collection of wooden and skin drums arranged on a woven mat.

Image: Pa’u mangō (skin drum) from Te Papa Tongarewa, Ref No. FE010085. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

In the recent Kia Mau Festival — a Māori, Pasifika, and Indigenous arts festival in Wellington — there was a show called ‘Avaiki Nui Social which featured some of the best musicians from across the 15 Cook Islands.

In the video below, Cook Islands artist Tu Aratini talks about ‘Avaiki Nui, and explains some of the history of the group and of music in the Cook Islands. Some other great musicians to check out are father/daughter pair Will and Annie Crummer. Will was quite famous back in the 1960s, and Annie has been rocking it since the ’80s. You can find some of their music, and music by other Cook Islands musicians, on our catalogue!

A chef holds a small bowl with a mixture of fish, green herbs, lemon, coconut, and other aromatics.

Image: Still from How to make IKA MATA by TheCoconetTV.

As well as music, our Cook Islands whānau are also well known for their food, or kai. Kai from Kūki ‘Āirani often draws on the use of local sea life, with their most popular dish being Ika Mata. Ika mata means ‘raw fish,’ but it actually involves ‘cooking’ the fish by allowing it to soak in lemon juice and coconut.

Sound yum? Check out this “how to” video from TheCoconetTV to learn how to make it for yourself, or check out Sonja’s Kitchen: Sustainable Cuisine from the Cook Islands, a cookbook by Dee Pigneguy and Sonja Raela full of delicious recipes from across the Cook Islands!

Celebrating Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani in Aotearoa

With such a proud culture back home, it’s not surprising that Cook Islanders in Aotearoa can often feel disconnected, both from their whānau (family) and from their hanua (homeland).

One of the reasons we celebrate Te ‘Epetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani this week is to make sure our Kūki ‘Āirani whānau know that the culture of their homeland is loved and appreciated no matter where they are.

By learning to use more Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani throughout Aotearoa, we also strengthen our own connection with the world that we all share.

Here are some simple phrases that you can practice with (visit the Ministry of Pacific Peoples’ website for more!):

Hello! — Kia orāna!

Thank you — Meitaki

Goodbye (when you are leaving) — ‘Ē no’o rā

Goodbye (when someone else is leaving) — ‘Aere rā

Yes — Āe

No — Kare

My name is… — Ko … tōku ingoa

Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani at the Library

Browse our selection of some of our favourite books in Cook Islands Māori, or about the Cook Islands, below. Don’t forget you can find more books in Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani on our catalogue!

Cook Islands / Kingstone, Taria
“Introduces the history, climate, population, social structure and unique ceremonies of the Cook Islands, and the importance of religion to its people. Suggested level: intermediate, junior secondary.” (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)

Legends of the Cook Islands / Hopkins, Shona
“Collection of eight illustrated legends from the Cook Islands. Set in a mythological time known as Avaiki, these stories tell of brave men and women, mystical mountains, powerful gods and majestic sea creatures. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.” (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, Māui, Ngaru and Ru; historical figures such as Pa Tuterangi Ariki/Sir Thomas Davis, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, Mautara and Margharet Matenga; and contemporary heroes like Lima Sopoaga, Mīria George, Dr Kiki Maoate, Kevin Iro, and Teremoana Raply.” (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)

 

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Te Whanganui-a-Tara!

Zoe Miller

Kia ora koutou ngā kaitākaro poikiri / Soccer players!

Image of a number of hands raising the FIFA trophy into the air.
Unless you have been living under a rock (if so, hello! ) you might have heard that New Zealand (with Australia) is now hosting the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. This is very exciting for Aotearoa as we often don’t get the chance to host such big and important tournaments.

The kick off started on Thursday 20th July in Auckland with NZ winning 1-0 in their first world cup match against Norway, who is a much higher ranked team than us. New Zealand, ranked 26th in the world, had never won a match in five previous appearances at the Women’s World Cup.

We also set a record for attendance for any soccer match in New Zealand history, men’s or women’s with more than 42,100 people in attendance. You can imagine how proud and excited we all are!

Kimihia ngā poiwhana! | Find the footballs!

playground with football sign attached to fenceApart from going to games there are also lots of other fun events and activities around the city to get involved in.

 Wellington City Council’s very own Play Specialist Peta has set up a cool installation in six local parks where you can try and Kimihia ngā poiwhana | Find the footballs! Find the golden ball to be in to win one of 20 FIFA Women’s World Cup TM Official Merchandise packs!

⚽ Check out this reel here: Wellington Recreation Centres to find out more or read more below:

⚽ At six of our parks below we’ve hidden 11 special football signs for you to find. On each of the football signs, you and your tamariki can learn common football terms in Te Reo Māori and in New Zealand Sign Language.

⚽ Amongst the 11 football signs at each park lies a hidden treasure – a golden ball with a QR code. Scan this to go in the draw to win one of 20 FIFA Women’s World cup 2023 TM Official Merchandise Packs!

⚽ The balls are located at six of our parks, including Karori and Nairnville Parks, which are not far from a couple of our Wellington Recreation Centres. You can find them at:

  • Miramar Park
  • Linden Park and Linden Park West
  • Pukehuia Park
  • Narinville Park
  • Wakefield Park

We will be drawing winners throughout July and August, and winners will be contacted directly via email.

FIFA Fan Festival 

3 football fern players

Football Ferns Headshoot, Christchurch, New Zealand, 10th November 2022. Copyright: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz

⚽  Join the party at the FIFA Fan Festival™ at Shed 6. From 20 July to 11 August enjoy free entertainment from artists including Ladyhawke, Amba Holly, Ria Hal, Che Fu and much more, plus live streamed matches and fun for the whole family.  Indoors at Shed 6, and outdoors at Queens Wharf Square.

⚽  There are lighting projections planned on Te Papa and The Boatshed during the FIFA tournament window, with additional uplighting installed along the Waterfront and last mile, leading to Wellington Regional Stadium.

⚽  Find out more at the WellingtonNZ Fifa Fan Festival website


A picture of Hataitai beach

Council’s Beach Planting initiative for FIFA Fans

  • On 25th July, willing FIFA Fans and players can join a planned beach planting day at Lyall Bay Beach.
  • Transport will be available from the CBD.
  • Bookings will take place on the Council’s ‘SMART’ app.

Tell me more about the World Cup!

soccer ball on a field with stadium seats in background

Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington will host seven Group Matches, a Round of Sixteen clash, and a Quarter Final. All games will be held at Wellington Regional Stadium.

Wellington Regional Stadium Matches- coming up

  • Football Ferns v Philippines: 25 July (5.30pm NZDT)
  • USA v Netherlands: 27 July (1pm NZDT)
  • Sweden v Italy: 29 July (7.30pm NZDT)
  • Japan v Spain: 31 July (7pm NZDT)
  • South Africa v Italy: 2 August (7pm NZDT)
  • Round of 16: 1C v 2A: 5 August (8pm NZDT)
  • Quarterfinal Match: 11 August (1pm NZDT)

Can’t make it to a World Cup event? Don’t worry, we have plenty of great stories featuring awesome female (and male) football players and lots of books to help you learn some new skills too!

Books about Football!

⚽  If you want to improve your skills, or just learn some more about soccer or some of NZ’s sporting greats check out these great reads:

Football atlas : a journey across the world and onto the pitch / Buckley, James
“A journey across the globe and onto the pitch to learn about the world of football. A comprehensive exploration of football, covering players, teams, stadiums and competitions through a mix of illustrations, photographs, maps and diagrams. Follow the story of how football began, learn about World Cup winners, meet some of the top players and discover amazing facts and figures in this action-packed atlas.” (Catalogue)

Charligh Green vs. the spotlight / Mante, Priscilla
“Hi! I’m Charligh, and one day I’m going to be a big star. I’m full of PIZZAZZ after all, and everyone I’ve ever met tells me I’m unforgettable. In a good way, I think. I’ve always loved attention, but at the moment, there’s a teeny tiny chance I’m getting it for all the wrong reasons. For starters, me and my very-nearly-world-famous team, the Bramrock Stars, are trying to win big against our rivals in the new league. But I can’t stop tripping over the ball! And although I’ve got my dream part in the school play, the words just won’t stick in my head. What’s going to happen if I can’t learn my lines? Luckily for me, my best friends really are the bestest, and I know they’ll help me whatever it takes. It’s time for me to step into the spotlight, and prove girls really can do anything!” (Catalogue)

Megan Rapinoe / Sánchez Vegara, Ma Isabel
“Discover the life of Megan Rapinoe, the world record-breaking footballer and activist. Chasing a ball in the school playground, Megan discovered her calling at a young age. Even if she didn’t always fit in at school, she was a star on the field- and her teammates thought so too. Her passion, skill and leadership took Team USA to Olympic Gold and a World Cup victory, while she continues to champion women’s and LGBTQ+ rights and representation in sport.” (Catalogue)

She shoots, she scores / Clarke, Catriona
“She Shoots, She Scores! tells the empowering story of how women’s football has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Written by acclaimed YA novelist Catriona Clarke and with a foreword by England captain Steph Houghton, it is sure to inspire the next generation of female football superstars. Young football fans will discover how the early female players overcame prejudice to set up their own teams, and read the compelling stories of players who beat the odds to become famous around the world: including Scotland’s Rose Reilly, Asisat Oshoala from Nigeria, and Afghanistan’s Nadia Nadim. The book is packed with facts and stats about the Women’s World Cup and the Olympics, plus pocket profiles of the world’s top players – from Marta to Megan Rapinoe – and record-breaking teams, including the US national women’s team and Olympique Lyonnais. What’s more, discover the key skills you’ll need to become a great goalkeeper, a tough-tackling defender or the world’s next superstar striker!”–Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue)

Our beautiful game / Kuenzler, Lou
“Polly Nabb is no stranger to trouble. When her brother Joe is sent to serve in the trenches, all Polly wants is to kick a ball about and forget the war. Mam has other ideas, and makes her stay home to help with endless chores. But football is something Polly is prepared to fight for – it’s her life! She’s determined to do whatever it takes to fulfil her dream and show the world that football is not just for boys . . .” (Catalogue)

The big book of football
“Dive into the world of football with this mega book of everything to do with the beautiful game. Learn all the lingo; meet the greatest players, managers and teams from both the men’s and women’s games; take masterclasses with the pros; wander through the haircut hall of fame; learn the most iconic goal celebrations and more.” (Catalogue)

Find more books in our catalogue

Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa | Sāmoa Language Week 2023!

Zoe Miller

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

Download a Sāmoa Language Week poster!

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 3rd 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.

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?

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:

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 Miller

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

Girl smiling

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 Miller

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!

World Arabic Language Day 2022!

wcl staff


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 →

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Wei Jing Tan

On 29th November 1977 the United Nations created the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This day is to remind people that even though the Palestinians didn’t agree to the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 they still have human rights; the right to decide where they live, where they travel and who their government is.  Both Israelis and Palestinians have the right to live in peace. The hope of the United Nations is to build a future of peace.

In 1948 when Israel was created around 750,000 Palestinians were forced to leave their homes and become refugees (Source: United Nations). This number has grown since then and there are now more than 13 million Palestinian people in the world (Source: IMEMC). Palestinian people speak Arabic, Hebrew, English, and other varieties of Arabic. You may know Palestinian people who live in Wellington or greater New Zealand who arrived here as former refugees.

If you want to read more about Palestine, Palestinians and Israel you could look up these interactive resources:

Many famous writers and poets come from Palestine. Some of these writers are; Mahmoud Darwish, Naomi Shihab Nye and Ghassan Kanafani.

Check out the books about Palestine or by Palestinian authors in our collection. (Remember joining the library is free and if there are some books you would like us to buy you can suggest them to us: Suggestions to Buy Library Items (wcl.govt.nz)

The turtle of Oman : a novel / Nye, Naomi Shihab
“When Aref, a third-grader who lives in Muscat, Oman, refuses to pack his suitcase and prepare to move to Michigan, his mother asks for help from his grandfather, his Sidi, who takes Aref around the country, storing up memories he can carry with him to a new home.” (Catalogue)

Three wishes : Palestinian and Israeli children speak / Ellis, Deborah
“Interviews with Palestinian and Israeli children examine how the war in the Middle East has affected their lives.” (Catalogue) This book is for older children 10+

Tasting the sky : a Palestinian childhood / Barakat, Ibtisam
“When a war ends it does not go away, my mother says. It hides inside us . . . Just forget. But I do not want to do what Mother says . . . I want to remember. In this groundbreaking memoir set in Ramallah during the aftermath of the 1967 Six-Day War, Ibtisam Barakat captures what it is like to be a child whose world is shattered by war.” (Adapted from Catalogue) This book is for older children 10+

A little piece of ground / Laird, Elizabeth
“Twelve-year-old Karim Aboudi and his family are trapped in their Ramallah home by a strict curfew. Israeli tanks control the city in response to a Palestinian suicide bombing. Karim longs to play football outside with his friends. But in this city there’s constant danger. Ages 10+” (Catalogue)

Milet mini picture dictionary : English-Arabic / Turhan, Sedat
“Introduces key English and Arabic words for plants, animals, shapes, food, and other common items.” (Catalogue)

My first book of Arabic words / Kudela, Katy R
“Simple text paired with themed photos invite the reader to learn to speak Arabic.” (Catalogue)

Israel and Palestine / Gallagher, Michael
“This series is a fascinating and informative look at the historical background to world trouble spots. Each title is packed with details, photographs and maps. Ages 10-16.” (Catalogue)

Israel and Palestine / Mason, Paul
“An informed, unbiased review of some of the world’s major conflict zones Global Hot Spots aims to fill in the facts behind the headlines, developing students’ understanding of the historical context of the events they see on TV. It provides accounts of real-life experiences and looks at ‘how history was made’ in these conflict zones.” (Catalogue)