Gentle, humble and dedicated to his Tokelau roots, these are just some of the qualities that describe Tokelau language advocate Okesene Faraimo.
Born in Samoa, raised in Tokelau, and having called Porirua, Wellington home since 1963, Okesene has dedicated much of his life to ensuring Te Gagana Tokelau (Tokelau Language) continues to thrive for generations to come.
His services to the Tokelau language have been recognised with his appointment as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours.
Okesene is one of five Pacific community champions nominated by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples for this year's honours.
Okesene says it was a humbling recognition and the honour came as a surprise. He immediately thought of the people who helped shape him into the person he is today.
"When I received the email to say I was receiving this honour, I thought about my grandparents. I got really emotional because I was just grateful and thankful for what they did for me, to raise me to be who I am today. They really set the foundations for me," says Okesene.
Growing up in Aotearoa also reinforced the significance of culture and identity for Okesene.
“When I first moved to Aotearoa, it was hard. I struggled because there weren't many island kids around, and I was often called names by other kids. Remembering who I was and where I came from was important for me during those times."
Those experiences would go on to shape his commitment to preserving and promoting Te Gagana Tokelau and culture. He is part of community language steering groups and the National Tokelau Aotearoa Leaders Council.
His passion for language preservation also saw him contribute to the development of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples' Pacific Languages Strategy 2022–2032, helping ensure Tokelau voices were represented and heard.
"For me, it's about being proud of your identity and your heritage. It's important that our people here in Aotearoa continue to hold on to our language."
While much of his community work has focused on language and culture, Okesene also brings those same values into his professional life.
By day, Okesene works as a social worker at Taemānino Trust in Porirua, where supporting Pacific families and communities remains at the heart of his work.
"Being a social worker means I get to collaborate and incorporate our upbringings and cultural concepts from different Pacific countries like Samoa, Tokelau and the Cook Islands. I do this alongside my colleagues.
It's about highlighting the importance of cultural values and family, and using our shared cultural knowledge to meet the needs of our Pacific communities in ways that resonate with them.”
L-R: Okesene's daughter Eremyar, Okesene, and daughter Petesa
For Okesene, one of the most rewarding parts of his journey has been seeing more young people embrace Te Gagana Tokelau.
"In the last few years, just seeing the incredible change, especially the enthusiasm from young people wanting to be part of our cultural events, has been incredible.
Here in Wellington, we come together during Te Gagana Tokelau Language Week and have a big celebration at the end of the week. I can see the growth in numbers and participation.
Even families who we haven't seen at some of our functions for a long time are coming along in support. That's been really positive, and I hope it continues."
Okesene says his faith is central to his cultural identity, and that his strong connection to God has given him strength in his commitment to Te Gagana Tokelau, culture and community.
When asked about his vision for the future of the Tokelau community, his message is simple.
"Hold tight, be proud of who you are, and be proud of your culture. Know that you're never alone. There's a whole village behind you."