Samoan celebrities for Samoan Language Week

Samoan celebrities speak up for Samoan Language Week

Rugby league heroes, MPs from both sides of the house and TV stars are speaking up to support Samoan Language Week (30 May to 5 June).

“The word went out through the Samoan community and the response has been amazing,” says Sam Sefuiva of the Human Rights Commission, one of the organising agencies.

Role models have already begun recording their own video “shout outs” to support Samoan Language Week and are sending them to organisers. They include league legends Ruben Wiki, Nigel Vagana, National MP Sam Lotu I’iga, Labour MP Su’a William Sio and TVNZ presenter Pippa Wetzell.

In the run up to this year’s Samoan Language Week, organisers set up a Facebook Page and within a few weeks were getting messages of support from as far away as Switzerland, Alaska and even Kazakhstan. There are now nearly 2500 members with people joining every hour.

The Facebook page also led to a meeting in Sydney – the first time Samoan Language Week had stretched across the Tasman – to rugby league legend Nigel Vagana and other players.

“As a result we are proud to announce that this year Samoan Language Week has the formal support of the NZ Rugby League (NZRL) and the Australian Rugby League (ARL).”

Samoan Language Week kicks off this Sunday with an interdenominational church service at the Malaeola Hall in Mangere, Auckland at 6pm.

Visit the Samoan Language Week Facebook Page to check out celebrity shout outs:

For more, visit the Samoan Language Week page at the Human Rights Commission:

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