Te ʻEpetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ʻĀirani 2023

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)

 

Wikin te Taetae ni Kiribati 2023

Kam na bane ni mauri! Welcome to Wikin te Taetae ni Kiribati | Kiribati Language Week 2023. Tungaru, the main language of the i-Kiribati people, is spoken by over 100,000 people across the 33 islands and atolls of Kiribati — and by around 1500 people here in Aotearoa. i-Kiribati people are an important part of our community in Aotearoa, with over 3,000 people of Kiribati heritage calling our islands home, about 310 of whom live in Wellington. (Source: 2018 Census)

This year, the theme for Wikin te Taetae ni Kiribati is:

“Ribinan, karikirakean ao kateimatoan ara katei ma ara taetae ni Tungaru.” | “Nurture, enhance and sustain the Tungaru language and culture.”

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


Books

Check out some of these books from our children’s section from and about Kiribati, and in te taetae ni Kiribati:

I want to read and speak Kiribati / Ewels, Kinaua
“Kiribati-English primer. Kiribati is a Pacific nation which straddles the equator. […] Most of the children in New Zealand use English as their language. Some children are encouraged to use Kiribati at home but still do not write the language because they do not have a written text. This book will assist children in New Zealand and Kiribati to become bi-lingual.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Nui’s unique heritage = Nui iloga e kakateke / Sioni, Alamai
“Describes how the people of two different Pacific cultures, I-Kiribati and Samoan, came together on Nui, Tuvalu.” (Catalogue)

Tareima’s string / MacGregor, Jill
“Tareima, who lives in Kiribati, shows how she makes string from the fibres of coconut husks, and describes what the string is used for. Contains some Kiribati words and glossary. Suggested level: primary.” (Catalogue)

Te ano / MacGregor, Jill
“Describes the traditional game of Te Kabwe, as played in Kiribati, and how two young girls weave a new ball (ano) out of pandanus leaves when the old one is worn out.” (Catalogue)

Micronesia / Guile, Melanie
“Discover what life is like in Micronesia as you read about its history, language, customs and traditions. Find out about Micronesia’s best known landmarks and its unique plants and animals. Learn about life in the towns and the country, and environmental problems, such as rising seas. Ages 8+.”(Catalogue)

Beginnings and endings with lifetimes in between / Mellonie, Bryan
“Have you ever wondered why a butterfly lives for only a few weeks? Or why a tree lives for hundreds of years? You may have been sad when someone in your family, or a favourite pet became sick and died. There is a beginning and an ending to everything that is alive. In between is a lifetime.” (Adapted from Catalogue)


Rising seas : flooding, climate change and our new world / Thomas, Keltie
“The Earth’s oceans are on the rise. Since 1900, global sea levels have risen steadily each year to a global average of about 8 inches (20cm) today, and they’re still rising. By 2100, the sea could climb as much as 14 feet (4.3m) to 32 feet (9.75m). Rising Seas: Flooding, Climate Change and Our New World gives youth an eye-popping view of what the Earth might look like under the rising and falling water levels of climate change. Photographs juxtapose the present-day with that same area’s projected future. The shocking images will help them understand the urgency for action. Key issues in today’s news will be better understood, such as the 2015 Paris Protocol in which the world agreed to limit temperature increases to 2 degrees Celsius (ideally 1.5 degree).” (Catalogue)


Also, visit this link to find even more books about Kiribati at your local library.


More Resources

Check out the following websites to find out more about the atolls and islands of Kiribati and this beautiful country’s culture, language and history:

Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa | Sāmoa Language Week 2023!

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

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!

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

Read this post in English!

在即将来的星期日(122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、南韩、越南、新加坡、马来西亚、泰国、印度尼西、菲律,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庆祝义重大传统节日新西兰也将举办许多大大小小的活动!农历是一月亮的圆缺变化环为依据的日历。 

Chinese New Year Display and books inChinese languages at Johnsonville Library

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。它自己跑得很快的速度引以为傲,经常嘲笑它的邻居,牛,总是吞吞的。有一天,玉皇大帝为了找出一个可以简单计算的方法,而找了十二只动物赛赛跑。兔子也参加了这项赛,并早早就到达了赛现场。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,有三只动物终点线了!其中牛还得到了第二名!等兔子匆匆忙忙地过终点时,它只获得了第四名。此外,兔子也经常被描一只很善良,很有自信小动物。也偶尔会有点严肃,但兔子也是很感性,会努力地朝着目进。更多关于兔年的资料,可以浏览 Year of the Rabbit (chinesenewyear.net)

LNY

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

在越南,农历新年被称作元旦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 bánh tét庆祝这重要的节日Bánh chưng bánh tét是一种用糯米,绿豆和猪肉做成的越南粽子,差别在于Bánh chưng 使用一种称为“ 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 

Illustration of hanbok

Artist impression of hanbok.

在南韩和北韩,农历新年被称为Seollal설날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 

Maylasia NY photo

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!

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 inChinese languages at Johnsonville Library

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

LNY

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.

Illustration of hanbok

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!

Maylasia NY photo

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!


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

Nowe książki w języku polskim!

Read this post in English!

W końcu są tutaj! Z radością informujemy, że wiele nowych książek w języku polskim są dostępne pożyczyć w Bibliotek Miejskich w Wellington. Jeśli w domu mówicie po polsku, lub chciałbyście nauczyć się polskiego, te nowe książki dla Was i Waszej rodziny będą idealne do wspólnego czytania.

Te książki są w tej chwili na półce w Bibliotece Te Awe, ale możecie je też zamówić przez katalog online, wyszukując „Polish Language Readers” lub „Children 491.858.”

Czytajcie dalej znaleźć sześć naszych ulubionych nowych książek…

Mądra Mysz: Mam przyjaciela kucharza / Butschkow, Ralf
“Mój przyjaciel Stefan jest kucharzem i robi najlepsze spaghetti świata. Zanim jego danie trafią na talerze, trzeba najpierw kupić składniki, przygotować je, ugotować, przyprawić. A wszystko, co gotuje Stefan, jest bardzo zdrowe – nawet desery!” (Katalog)

Dinozaury / Benedetta, Nigelli
Dinozaury to kartonowa książka z serii Motoryka Smyka, która spodoba się najmłodszym dzieciom. Uczyć się wiele nowych słów, wysunić długą szyję brontozaura, odkryć, co na grzbiecie ma inny dinozaur, i sprawdzać, kto wykluje się z jaj. Ta książka to świetna zabawa!

Strażak Sam: Koncert w płomieniach / Tarnowska, Ewa
“Wieczorem, Mike i Elvis, najsłynniejszy rockandrollowy duet Pontypanty, mają dać koncert w mieście. Ale wybucha między nimi wielka kłótnia! Czy pokaz się odbędzie? Czy Samowi uda się pogodzić przyjaciół?” (Katalog)

Mruczęty : kot mikołaja / Rowland, Lucy
Ciepła i zabawna opowieść o kocie świętego Mikołaja. Mruczęty ma skłonności narkoleptyczne – zasypia wszędzie i o każdej porze. Pewnego dnia zasypia wśród prezentów, zawinięty w ozdobny papier, i trafia w nimi do sań. Na sanie dybie szajka złodziei! (Katalog)

Miś Tuliś piecze ciasteczka / Melling, David
“Miś Tuliś uwielbia pyszne miodowe ciasteczka, ale nagle jego miodek znika… Czy Tuliś da się przekonać owcom i spróbuje czegoś innego i nowego? A może nawet to polubi?” (Katalog)

Nasza podróż / Kubiak, Tadeusz
“Krótka wierszowana historia o podróży pociągiem. Są w niej kasa biletowa, perony i zawiadowca z gwizdkiem, opalana węglem lokomotywa, wagon posztowy i wagon sypialny… ale to nie wszystko! Tę książkę można nie tylko przeczytać, lecz także rozłożyć jak scenografię w teatrze. Z jednej strony zobaczycie wtedy mijane po drodze krajobrazy, z drugiej pociąg.” (Katalog)

New Books in Polish!

Read this post in Polish!

They are finally here! We’re excited to announce that a range of new books in the Polish language are available to borrow from Wellington City Libraries. If you speak Polish at home, or would like to learn, these new books will be perfect for you and your family to read together.

These books are currently on the shelf at Te Awe Library, but you can also order them through the online catalogue by searching for “Polish Language Readers” or “Children 491.858.”

Read on to find out about six of our favourite new books:

Mądra Mysz: Mam przyjaciela kucharza / Butschkow, Ralf
“My friend Stefan is a cook, and he makes the best spaghetti in the world! Before his meals hit the plates, you first need to buy the ingredients, prepare them, cook them, and season them. Everything that Stefan cooks is healthy — even the desserts!” (Translated from Catalogue)

Dinozaury / Benedetta, Nigelli
Dinozaury is a board book in the series Smyk’s Motoryka, which are designed to appeal to the youngest children. Learn lots of new words, slide the Brontosaurus’ long neck back and forth, find out what another dinosaur has on its back, and see who is hatching their eggs. This book is so much fun!


Strażak Sam: Koncert w płomieniach / Tarnowska, Ewa
“This evening, Mike and Elvis, Pontypanty’s most famous rock-and-roll duo, are scheduled to give a concert at the port. But they are having a big fight! Will the show take place? Will Fireman Sam be able to bring his friends back together?” (Translated from Catalogue)

Mruczęty : kot mikołaja / Rowland, Lucy
This is a warm and funny story about Santa’s cat. Mruczęty will fall asleep anywhere, at any time. One day he falls asleep among the Christmas presents, wrapped up in wrapping paper, and ends up being a present on a sleigh with a gang of dastardly thieves!  (Translated and adapted from Catalogue)

Miś Tuliś piecze ciasteczka / Melling, David
“Hugless Douglas loves delicious honey cookies, but suddenly his source of honey disappears… can he be persuaded to try something new and different? And maybe even like it?” (Translated from Catalogue)

Nasza podróż / Kubiak, Tadeusz
“This is a short story about travelling by train. In this book you’ll find a ticket office, platforms, a whistle operator, a coal-fired train, a post-coach, and a sleeping car — but that’s not all! This book is not just for reading, but can be spread out like a theatre set! On one side you’ll see the landscapes you pass along the way, and on the other, the body of the train.” (Translated and adapted from Catalogue)