Listen Now: 
October 17, 2022
Niuean Language Week takes reo guide
Peter Verschaffelt
Posted On October 17, 2022
Download AudioIt’s Niuean language week.
According to UNESCO, the language of our Pacific neighbour is endangered.
Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito Willian Sio while UNESCO has Niuean on its list of endangered languages, he came away from last night’s launch at Favona Primary School in the heart of Mangere feeling positive after hearing young Niueans singing in their native tongue.
He says Maori has pointed the way for the government’s Pacific language strategy.
“We’re aiming to make sure that we ensure that languages survive and thrive and prosper and as I said last night, we need to follow Maori – there are some events in our community where we make sure we are speaking our reo and not worry so much about the common language,” Mr Sio says.
This Wednesday is Niue’s Constitution Day, marking the day in 1974 when Niue became a self-governing state and no longer a New Zealand territory.
RELATED NEWS
