Skip to content

Rotuma Language Week 2023

Rotuma Language Week 2023

Celebrate: Sunday 7 May - Saturday 13 May

The theme for Gasav Ne Fäeag Rotuạm Ta - Rotuman Language Week 2023 is Vetḁkia ‘os Fäega ma Ag fak hanua - Sustaining our Language and Culture.

This theme was chosen in 2022 to build on from the previous year’s focus of Sustainability. The theme has resonated well with the Rotuman community and they have decided to extend it for Gasav Ne Fäeag Rotuạm Ta 2023.

With the Rotuman language classified as endangered by UNESCO, to nurture the Rotuman identity in Aotearoa, everyone must work together to revitalise and maintain Fäeag Rotuạm. 

In launching this year's Gasav Ne Fäeag Rotuạm Ta, Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon Barbara Edmonds, reminds us that there are approximately 2,000 speakers on Rotuma, around 10,000 in Fiji, and around 1,000 speakers in Aotearoa.

"In order to nurture this treasure, the Rotuman community here in Aotearoa is working together to save this unique and beautiful language and culture", she said.

Language Weeks was noted as a top ten enabler for language use in Aotearoa. The Leo Moana o Aotearoa Pacific Languages of Aotearoa report published last year shows the significant role Pacific languages play in the daily lives of our communities.

For example, 90 percent of Pacific people use Pacific languages at community meetings, 82 percent use Pacific languages with community members at least some of the time, and Pacific language use in recreation, sport and interest group activities is an emerging domain, with 39 percent taking part in Pacific performance or recreation activities, while 39 percent use Pacific languages on sports grounds or at sporting events.

See the Calendar of Events below for activities and events for Rotuman Language Week, being held throughout Aotearoa and online to showcase the richness of the Rotuman language, culture and traditions.

Stay connected online by visiting the official NZ Rotuman Language Week Facebook page.

Rotuma Language Week resources

Email signature - 700x100 px (PNG) - Download

Email signature - 1400x200 px (PNG) - Download 

Email signature with theme - 1400x200 px (PNG) - Download

Rotuma Language Week Official poster - A4 Download (PDF) 

Rotuma Language Week Official poster - A3 Download (PDF)

Blank poster template 1 green - A4 Download (PDF) 

Rotuma Language Card - 6 pages, 712kb (PDF) - Download

Square Rotuma Language Week tile - 1080 x 1080 px (PNG) - Download

Square Rotuma Language Week tile with theme - 1080 x 1080 px (PNG) - Download

Square Rotuma Language Week tile blank - 1080 x 1080 px (PNG) - Download

Rectangular Rotuma Language Week tile blank - 1200 x 628 px (PNG) - Download

Rectangular Rotuma Language Week tile with theme - 1080 x 628 px (PNG) - Download

Instagram story Rotuma Language Week tile with theme - 1080 x 1920 px (PNG) - Download 

Instagram story Rotuma Language Week tile blank - 1080 x 1920 px (PNG) - Download

Facebook banner Rotuma Language Week tile - 851 x 315 px (PNG) - Download

Facebook banner Rotuma Language Week tile with theme - 851 x 315 px (PNG) - Download

Twitter banner Rotuma Language Week tile - 1500 x 500 px (PNG) - Download

Twitter banner Rotuma Language Week tile with theme - 1500 x 500 px (PNG) - Download

LinkedIn banner Rotuma Language Week tile with theme - 1584 x 396 px (PNG) - Download

Rotuma Language Week Web banner with theme - 1080 x 1920 px (PNG) - Download

Rotuma Language Week Web banner with theme - 1080 x 628 px (PNG) - Download

Rotuma Language Week Web banner blank - 1200 x 628 px (PNG) - Download

Rotuma Language Week Web banner - 1920 x 1080 px (PNG) - Download

Rotuma Language Week Web banner - 2400 x 800 px (PNG) - Download

Rotuma Language Week Web banner with theme - 2400 x 800 px (PNG) - Download

Rotuma Language Week Web banner blank - 2400 x 800 px (PNG) - Download

Simple greetings and phrases:

Hello - Noa'ia (MP3) - Download

Goodbye - Fu’omus ma ạlạlum (MP3) - Download

Thank you - Fạiåkse’ea ‘e garue (MP3) - Download

Others:

Spiritual - Fak'ata (MP3) - Download

Physical - Fakforo (MP3) - Download

Psychological - 'Os a’häe (MP3) - Download

Relationship with people - Hạikạnagaga (MP3) - Download

A thatched shelter or house - Ri fak Rotuma (MP3) - Download

One file containing all resources, including: 

  • Email signature
  • Posters and templates
  • Language Card
  • Web banners
  • Social media content
  • Educational resources

(19.4 MB Zip file) - Download 

Calendar of events 2023

Date

Event

Time & Venue

Host

Saturday 6 May 2023

'Aran Mak 2023

3.00pm - 5pm
Sir Keith Park School
33 Robertson Road, Mangere
Auckland

New Zealand Rotuman Fellowship - Mairani

Sunday 7 May 2023

Rotuman Language Week Opening Church Service

12.30pm
Kingsland Trinity Methodist Church
400 New North Road, Kingsland
Auckland

Kingsland Rotuman Church
Monday 8 May 2023 Porirua Rotuman Flag raising event

8.00am
Peace Memorial
Te Rauparaha Park
Porirua, Wellington

New Zealand Rotuman Fellowship
  Blessing of Rotuma Exhibition 9.00am
Pataka Museum
Porirua, Wellington
New Zealand Rotuman Fellowship

 

3 Day Event - Storytelling (details to come) TBA

Canterbury Rotuma Group
  Understanding the Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi), followed by Dinner 7pm
NZ Rotuman Community Centre
165 Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill
Auckland
Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Inc.
Tuesday 9 May 2023 3 Day Event - Singing (details to come) TBA
Canterbury
Canterbury Rotuma Group
  Understanding the Dawn Raids and Pasifika People's advocacy for social justice, followed by dinner  7pm
NZ Rotuman Community Centre
165 Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill
Auckland
Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Inc.
Wednesday 10 May 2023 3 Day Event - Dancing (details to come) TBA
Canterbury
Canterbury Rotuma Group
  Health & Wellbeing (Hula Fit and exercise) 11.30am
NZ Rotuman Community Centre
165 Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill
Auckland

Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Inc.
  Life on Rotuma Island, followed by senior's lunch 12.00noon
NZ Rotuman Community Centre
165 Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill
Auckland
Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Inc.
  Home Ownership Workshop, followed by dinner 7.00pm
NZ Rotuman Community Centre
165 Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill
Auckland
Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Inc.
Thursday 11 May 2023 Rue Kainaga 7.30am until 9am 
Ceramco Park Function Centre  
112-122 Glendale Road, Glen Eden, West Auckland
Rotuman Kainaga Health and Fitness Group
 

Te Ran on La'ri'ri'l - Children's Day 

Children's Art Classes & Cultural Display, followed by dinner

4.00pm
NZ Rotuman Community Centre
165 Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill
Auckland
Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Inc.
   I am Rotuman - House of Mausio  Time TBA
Nora Sawnn HQ 
318 Ti Rakau Drive
Burswood, Auckland 
 Jioji Vai and team  
  Language workshop - equipping our people for a thriving language 7.00 to 9.00pm
Level 3, Westfield Mall
Manakau, Auckland 
Centre for Pacific Languages
Friday 12 May 2023  Ha'ha'rḁgi (youth) Serving our Communities - Food parcel distribution 6.30pm
NZ Rotuman Community Centre
165 Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill
Auckland
Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Inc.
   Whānau Learning Hub launch
- Parents workshops on NZ education, followed by dinner
7.30pm
NZ Rotuman Community Centre
165 Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill
Auckland
Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Inc.
Saturday 13 May 2023  Tautoga performance  10am
Te Papa Museum
Wellington
New Zealand Rotuman Fellowship
   Tautoga performance  2pm
Pataka Museum
Porirua, Wellington
New Zealand Rotuman Fellowship
   Rotuma Day Katoaga 10am - 3pm
Sir Keith Park School
33 Robertson Road, Mangere
Auckland
New Zealand Rotuman Fellowship - Mairani
   'Os Teran Rotuma - Rotuma Day Hafa
- Rotuman cultural dance performance
5.30pm
Kingsland Trinity Methodist Church
400 New North Road, Kingsland
Auckland
Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Inc.
   Kel'ak ne 'Os Faeaga 'Os Aga, 'Os Hanua
- Rotuman showcase and fashion show
6.00pm
Kingsland Trinity Methodist Church
400 New North Road, Kingsland
Auckland
Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Inc.
  Community engagement, followed by cutting of Rotuma Day cake and dinner 6.30pm
Kingsland Trinity Methodist Church
400 New North Road, Kingsland
Auckland
Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Inc.
Sunday 14 May 2023 Teran 'on 'Ohoni - Mother's Day
- Combined church service and closing of Rotuman Language Week 2023
2.00pm
Church Faith United Mt Albert
218 Mount Albert Road, Sandringham
Auckland
Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Inc.
   Teran 'on 'Ohoni - Mother's Day
- Cutting of Mother's Day cake, followed by lunch
3.30pm
Church Faith United Mt Albert
218 Mount Albert Road, Sandringham
Auckland
Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Inc.
       

Rotuman Language Week Funding Recipients

Below are recipients of funding for community contributions towards Rotuman Language Week preparations in 2022:

Organisation / Group Name

Location

Approved amount

Initiative theme

Canterbury Rotuman Community  

Canterbury 

 $10,000.00

Language week: language learning through Community Awareness Events; arts and craft; traditional dance; and music

NZ Rotuman Fellowship Inc 

National

 $32,680.00

 Language week: language through Community Awareness Events; traditional dance oratory; arts and craft; music; and Digital /Online Learning activities.

Rotuman Kainaga Health and Fitness Group

Auckland

 $5,000.00

Language week: language learning through Digital /Online Learning; Health and Fitness Awareness; Community Awareness Events

Below are recipients of funding for community contributions towards Rotuman Language Week preparations in 2021:

Organisation / Group Name

Location

Approved amount

Initiative theme

Rotuman Kainaga Health and Fitness Group

Auckland

 $1,900.00

Language week: language learning through health and fitness activities

New Zealand Rotuman Fellowship (NZRF)

Auckland

 $35,087.00

Language week: Language learning through cultural performances and activities

Canterbury Rotuman Community

Canterbury

 $1,550.00

Language week: Language learning through storytelling and sports activities

HATA Committee

Auckland

 $7,832.25

Language week: Language learning through storytelling and studying Rotuman artifacts and historical resources

Rotuman Wesleyan Church

Auckland

 $1,500.00

Language week: Language learning through music activities

Victoria University Pasifika Student Council

Wellington

 $900.00

Language week: Rotuma related quiz and cultural performances

 

Below are recipients of funding for community contributions towards Rotuman Language Week preparations in 2020:

Organisation / Group Name

Location

Approved amount

Initiative theme

NZ Rotuman Fellowship Inc 

National

 $11,615.00

Language week: language through Community Awareness Events; traditional dance oratory; arts and craft; music; and camp.