Porirua’s Tongan community came together in song, prayer, and celebration this morning at Pātaka to mark the opening of Tonga Language Week 2025. The event began with a flag raising ceremony and featured traditional performances, speeches, and a shared sense of cultural pride.
Lupeti Finau, serving as MC, welcomed the community, followed by a mihi from Con Noema on behalf of mana whenua Ngāti Toa Rangatira. Pastor Palavai Tukuitei led a prayer before a powerful hymn rang through the venue. Tongan community representative Ana Kinikini addressed the crowd before Porirua Mayor Anita Baker delivered a speech celebrating the city’s rich Pacific heritage.
Students from Aotea College captivated attendees with two traditional dances before the official raising of the Tongan flag, accompanied by the national anthem.
The 2025 theme for Tonga Language Week is “Ko ‘etau lea, ko e fe’unu mahu’inga ia ki he mo’ui ‘a e Tonga – Our language is a vital strand of our Tongan culture.” The week runs from 17 to 23 August and features nationwide events including workshops, cultural showcases, and youth-led celebrations from Auckland to Timaru.
Resources to support schools, workplaces, and communities in celebrating the week are available online, including posters, social media graphics, and language cards. Funding has also been provided to community groups across Aotearoa to support local initiatives that promote lea faka-Tonga through oratory, dance, music, and digital learning.
As celebrations unfold, the message remains clear, language is not just a tool for communication but a living thread connecting generations of Tongan identity and pride.
For more resources, visit: https://www.mpp.govt.nz/programmes-and-funding/pacific-languages/pacific-language-weeks/tonga-language-week/
