(Picture caption: MPP Senior Advisor, Languages Implementation Daniel Hytongue wraps-up the Pacific language weeks for 2023).
Fostering a shift towards greater appreciation for Pacific languages is one of many goals for the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) next year.
With the final event of the 2023 Pacific Language Weeks series wrapping up last month, some of the key implementation representatives from MPP are sharing their highlights for the year.
Senior Advisor of Languages Implementation Daniel Hytongue says the Tuvalu Language Week closing ceremony in Christchurch was a particular highlight for him.
“Each language week brings its own unique qualities and cultural customs, but I would have to say attending the Tuvalu Language Week closing ceremony held by Tagata Tuvalu Ōtautahi Trust in Christchurch was a personal highlight,” Daniel says.
“It was great to see how a small community can come together and keep their language alive and form close bonds through culture.”
Daniel – who is of Samoan, English, Irish and Scottish heritage – also touched on the milestone reached by the Fijian community of Nelson, which reached the second year of their annual language week.
“They continue to develop their capacity and capability to share and celebrate their language and culture in this region [Nelson].”
The MPP Languages Unit, which leads the Ministry’s language weeks in partnership with nine Pacific communities, wrapped up the last of the series: Tokelau, on 22 October.
Next year, MPP will again work with respective communities to add two new language weeks to the series – Solomon Islands Pidgin and Papua New Guinea Tok Pisin.
That will bring the total number of language weeks to 11 in 2024.
Daniel says he is excited about the two new additions to the series.
“With any project and programme, there are successes and challenges, and we are in the process of reviewing the Pacific Language Weeks series to see where improvements can be made,” Daniel says.
“We will continue to expand our presence in both public and private settings, fostering a shift in the perspectives from both Pacific and non-Pacific communities in Aotearoa towards greater appreciation for Pacific languages.
“Watch this space for a refreshed approach to language weeks 2024.”
Daniel joined MPP in June, when he started his role as Senior Advisor in the Languages Implementation team.
Before that, he was a teacher at an intermediate school in Nelson, where he has been living for the past 10 years with his wife Oriwa and their three children - Mika, 8, Wesley, 4, and Taliatalosaga, 9 months.
Daniel’s colleague, MPP Principal Advisor in Languages Implementation Louisa Vaeluaga, recapped her highlight of the language weeks series saying it was great seeing young children being encouraged and also encouraging each other to speak their mother tongue.
"It’s a reminder to us all wherever we are in our language journey to just give it a go," Luisa says
She says an emerging area to continue exploring is the online realm and utilising this space to reach wider audiences.
“There is some reform underway and a review in all areas involved with delivering the language weeks…which is exciting.”
Louisa is of Tokelau and Tuvalu heritage and joined the Ministry in October 2019 as an intern through the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards.
She has overseen the delivery of Pacific Language Weeks since 2020 and has since handed the baton to Daniel to lead.
Visit the MPP website for Pacific Language Weeks information and resources.