Young Tokelauans urged to Mind Your Language

Young Tokelauans urged to Mind Your Language

Innovative family and community based language learning resources are being made available to young people across New Zealand interested in learning Gagana Tokelau – the Tokelau Langauge.

The Mind Your Language Tokelau Resources have been developed by the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs in partnership with the Mind Your Language Tokelau Executive Board, a group of Tokelauan people passionate about supporting the retention of the language amongst young Tokelauans.

The first phase of the Mind Your Language Tokelau release sees visual aids that will be able to take pride of place in the home and encourage every day discussions amongst family members in the Tokelau language.

Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Chief Executive, Dr Colin Tukuitonga says Mind Your Language is designed to get more New Zealand born Pacific people speaking the language of their forebears. “Our communities in New Zealand outnumber those living in Tokelau, and sadly our young New Zealand born people can’t speak these languages. Mind Your Language aims to change that.”

Dr Tukuitonga is calling on communities to collectively support language learners. “Mind Your Language helps our communities to strengthen their sense of cultural identity. We hope every member of the Tokelau community supports the people who make use of this valuable resource.”

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