Gagana Sāmoa celebrated this week
Hon Alfred
Ngaro
Minister for Pacific
Peoples
28 May 2016 Media
Statement
Gagana Sāmoa
celebrated this week
Ua saunoa le Minisita o le Matagaluega mo Tagata Pasifika i Niu Sila, Alfred Ngaro – “O le vaiaso o le gagana Samoa, o se avanoa mo Niu Sila atoa e ma’au ma fiafia fa’atasi i le felanulanua’i o gagana ma aganu’u taitasi, aemaise ia maua’a le gagana”
Sāmoan Language week gives
all New Zealanders the opportunity to celebrate our
diversity and keep the language alive says Minister for
Pacific Peoples, Alfred Ngaro.
“I’d love to see more
of our young people, regardless of their ethnicity, leading
the way and embracing Gagana Sāmoa,” says Mr
Ngaro.
“Regardless of your heritage there’s no doubt
that Gagana Sāmoa and Fa’a Sāmoa make a massive
contribution to modern New Zealand.
“With renewed
interest internationally in Pacific cultures, in large part
because of the hugely successful Moana film, Vaiaso o le
Gagana Sāmoa presents an opportunity for us to showcase and
celebrate Gagana Sāmoa.
“I’d encourage everyone to
give Gagana Sāmoa a go this week whether through song,
dance, or using words and phrases.”
Vaiaso o le Gagana
Sāmoa runs from Sunday 28 May through to Saturday 3 June
2017.
The theme for the week this year is “Ma’au i
lou ofaga. Maua’a lou fa’asinomaga”, or in English,
“keep your identity alive to thrive”.
Further
information about Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa including a
calendar of events and language resources can be found at www.mpp.govt.nz/language-culture-and-identity/pacific-language-weeks/