This year’s theme was prepared by SAASIA – The Association of Aoga Amata (Samoan early childhood centres) in New Zealand. It focuses on tautua (service) and aims to clearly express the significance of service that is founded on love – “Love is the driving force of service. No matter what service looks like or who is doing it, service is accomplished through the power of love.
SAASIA further elaborates on this theme, affirming that maintaining the Samoan language is also achieved through service - through the Samoan values of alofa (love), fa’aaloalo (respect), and especially in the vā fealoa’i (respectful relationships) that guide and protect Samoan people. Service begins in the family and continues in schools, villages, churches, communities, and wherever Samoan people are. The ongoing mission, therefore, is the collective preservation of language and identity for Samoan children into the future.
You can find resources for Samoa Language Week, including social media graphics and posters below.
Download Samoa Language Week tile - 1080x1080px (PNG)
Download Samoa Language Week tile - 1080 x 1350px (PNG)
Download Samoa Language Week story tile - 1080 x 1920px (PNG)
Download everyday phrases tile - 1080x1080 (PNG)
Download office banter tile - 1080x1080 (PNG)
Download lunch phrases tile - 1080x1080 (PNG)
Download Samoa Language Week Facebook banner - 851 x 315px (PNG)
Download Samoa Language Week LinkedIn banner - 1128 x 191px (PNG)
Simple greetings and phrases:
One file containing all resources, including:
|
Event |
Time |
Venue |
Hosted by |
|
Opening for Samoan Language Week |
10am |
Fale Pasifika Te Tai Tokerau |
Hosted by the Whangarei Samoan Community Committee |
|
Opening Lotu for Samoan Language Week |
2pm |
Papatoetoe High School |
Hosted by Fotu o Mālama |
|
Samoan Language Week Opening, Combined Church service |
3pm |
Invercargill Christian Centre 165 Leet Street, |
Hosted by Pacific Island Advisory Charitable Trust (PIACT) |
|
Opening lotu for Samoan Language week |
4pm |
Fale o Samoa |
Hosted FAGASA |
|
Opening lotu |
4pm |
Samoan Methodist Church |
|
|
Tauvaga Tautalaga, Vaiaso O Le Gagana Samoa 2024 |
5pm – 6.30pm |
206 Songer Street |
Hosted by Fa'alapotopotoga Tagata Samoa Nelson Tasman |
|
Event |
Time |
Venue |
Hosted by |
|
Porirua Flag raising ceremony |
8am |
Porirua Peace Memorial |
|
|
Ava o le Feiloaiga |
8am |
Auckland Girls Grammar School |
|
|
Ava o le Feiloaiga |
8am |
Staffroom, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Otara, Auckland 2023 |
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate |
|
Lotu & sisiga fu’a |
8am |
Kelston Girls’ College 1 Archibald Road, Kelston, Auckland 0600 |
|
|
Flag raising ceremony |
9am |
Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) |
|
|
WELTEC Whitreia Samoan Language week launch |
9am |
Whitireia Campus, |
|
|
Opening ceremony |
9.15am |
Makoura College Hall |
Hosted by Pasifika o Wairarapa Trust |
|
Samoan Language Week celebration |
9.30am – 1pm |
Multicultural Recreation & Community Centre |
Hosted by Tino e Tasi Preschool Christchurch |
|
Opening lotu for Samoa Language Week |
10am |
EFKS Christchurch |
Hosted by SAASIA. In person and online. |
|
Opening ceremony |
10am |
Glen Innes Library Glen Innes Auckland |
Hosted by Te Oro |
|
Launch of Samoa Language Week |
10.30am |
Victoria University of Wellington |
|
|
Mafutaga Faifeau Launch of the Horowhenua Samoa Language Week |
11am |
Samoan Methodist Church |
|
|
‘Ava Ceremony |
11am - 2pm |
Ti Kouka, Haere Roa University of Canterbury |
Hosted by Canterbury University Samoan Students Association |
|
Waitangirua community flag raising celebrations |
1pm |
Waitangirua Mall, |
|
|
Flag raising ceremony |
2pm |
Hastings District Council |
|
|
Samoan speech, poetry, and song competition |
6pm |
Samoan Methodist Church |
|
|
Samoan Igi workshop |
6-8pm |
Pacific Island Advisory Charitable Trust (PIACT) |
With Solofua Ioapo |
|
Event |
Time |
Venue |
Hosted by |
|
PEIT & Schools performances |
12pm |
Café, Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) |
|
|
Galuega Taulima – Arts and crafts |
6pm – 8pm |
Performing Arts space 17 Parumoana Street |
Hosted by EFKS Ketesemane Mafutaga Tina |
|
Event |
Time |
Venue |
Hosted by |
|
Samoan Stories and Songs |
10.00am |
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō |
|
|
Learning how to make panikeke and koko alaisa |
12pm |
Café, Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) |
|
|
’O ata fa’asolo mai Samoa i aso anamua (Samoan film) |
12.30-1.30pm |
Taiwhanga Kauhau — Auditorium, (lower ground) |
Special screening of ‘’O ata fa’asolo mai Samoa i aso anamua‘ (Samoan film). |
|
Samoan traditional dance wear workshop |
3.30pm |
Māngere East Library |
Hosted by Māngere East Library |
|
Samoan Language Week Mass |
5.00pm |
De La Salle School Hall |
Hosted by De La Salle College |
|
Ailao/Fire dance workshop |
6-8pm |
Pacific Island Advisory Charitable Trust (PIACT) |
With Ieti Toomalatai & IFC church |
|
Event |
Time |
Venue |
Hosted by |
|
Samoan Language Week celebration |
TBC |
He Waka Tapu |
Hosted by He Waka Tapu |
|
Samoan crafts - learning how to make a traditional Samoan headpiece |
12pm |
M201 |
|
|
Event |
Time |
Venue |
Hosted by |
|
Samoa costume making workshop |
9am – 10.30am |
Unitec Waitakere Campus |
Hosted by Unitec Pacific Centre |
|
Closing lotu for Samoan Language Week |
10am |
EFKS Palmerston North |
Hosted by SAASIA. In person and online. |
|
Samoan Women’s Health Event Arts and crafts |
10am |
Levin Memorial Hall |
|
|
Samoan themed rhyme time for pre-schoolers |
10.30am |
Māngere East Library |
Hosted by Māngere East Library |
|
Samoa costume making workshop |
11.30am – 1pm |
Unitec Mt Albert Campus |
Hosted by Unitec Pacific Centre |
|
Po Fiafia |
6pm |
Levin Memorial Hall |
|
|
Sauniga Lotu Tu’ufa’atasi Samoa I Ueligitone. Closing of Samoan Language Week and Launch of the Samoa Independence Week. |
5.30pm – 7.30pm |
EFKS Cannons Creek, 111 Castor Crescent, Cannons Creek, Porirua |
Mafutaga Faifeau Samoa I Ueligitone |
|
Amataga Iti |
7pm |
Mangere Arts Centre - - Nga Tohu o Uenuku |
Hosted by Tuiga Dance Academy |
|
Event |
Time |
Venue |
Hosted by |
|
Samoa Independence Day Annual Celebration – Sisiga fu’a, ‘ava & fa’afiafiaga |
9am |
Christchurch Town Hall |
Hosted by Christchurch Samoan Minister's Fraternal |
|
Samoa Independence Day celebrations |
10am |
Hall, Nelson Girls College |
Hosted by Nelson Tasman Pasifika Trust Community |
|
Samoa Independence Day Culture Day |
10am-3pm |
Hansen Hall Invercargill |
Hosted by Pacific Island Advisory Charitable Trust (PIACT) |
|
Samoa Independence Day celebrations |
TBC |
Horowhenua Events Centre |
Flag raising ceremony Games/Sports Health Checks and Vaccination |
|
Samoan language week activities |
12pm |
Fale Pasifika Te Tai Tokerau |
Hosted by the Whangarei Samoan Community Committee |
|
Sisiga fu’a ceremony Independence Day celebration |
|
Kings House Church 190 Riverbend Road, |
|
|
Amataga Iti |
1pm & 7pm |
Mangere Arts Centre - - Nga Tohu o Uenuku |
Hosted by Tuiga Dance Academy |
|
Uke Jam session with Loni |
2pm |
Māngere East Library |
Hosted by Māngere East Library |
Below are recipients of funding for community contributions towards Samoa Language Week preparations in 2024:
| Organisation/Group name | Location | Approved amount | Language | Initiative focus |
| Samoan Society Timaru Incorporated | Timaru | $3,000 | Gagana Samoa | Language learning through music, digital/online learning, traditional dance, arts and crafts, oratory, and community awareness events |
| Faalapotopotoga mo le aoaoina o le Gagana Samoa i Aotearoa (FAGASA) | National | $8,000 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language learning through music, digital/online learning, traditional dance, arts and crafts, oratory, and community awareness events |
| Sosaiete Aoga Amata Samoa i Aotearoa (SAASIA) | National | $10,000 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language learning through music, digital/online learning, traditional dance, arts and crafts, oratory, and community awareness events |
| Fotu o Malama | Auckland | $15,000 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language learning through music, digital/online learning, traditional dance, arts and crafts, oratory, and community awareness events |
| Gagana Samoa Expo | Auckland | $2,500 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language learning through music, digital/online learning, traditional dance, arts and crafts, oratory, and community awareness events |
| Pasifika4 Tomorrow | Levin | $3,000 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language learning through music, digital/online learning, traditional dance, arts and crafts, oratory, and community awareness events |
| Mafutaga Faifeau Fellowship | Wellington | $2,000 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language learning through community awareness events |
Below are recipients of funding for community contributions towards Samoa Language Week preparations in 2023:
|
Organisation/Group Name |
Location |
Approved Amount |
Initiative focus |
|
SAASIA |
Auckland |
$10,000 |
Language learning through digital/online learning, traditional dance, arts and crafts, and music
|
|
Siva Komiti Tanetini |
Otago |
$1,800 |
Language learning through dance and music |
|
Fa'alapotopotoga Tagata Samoa Nelson Tasman |
Nelson |
$3,000 |
Language learning through traditional dance, community awareness events, oratory, and music |
| FAAGASA Inc |
Auckland |
$10,000 |
Language learning through music, digital/online learning, traditional dance, arts and crafts, oratory, and community awareness events |
|
Fotu o Malama Association |
Auckland |
$13,000 |
Language learning through digital/online learning, traditional dance, arts and crafts, oratory, community awareness events, and music |
|
CCCS Otahuhu Youth Group |
Auckland |
$2,500 |
Language learning through oratory, and traditional dance |
|
Autalavou EFKS New Lynn - Vavega o le Ola |
Auckland |
$3,450 |
Language learning through traditional dance, oratory and music |
|
Pacific Media Network |
Auckland |
$4,000 |
Language learning through a community awareness event, traditional dance, and digital/online learning |
|
Faugagana Committee |
Wellington |
$3,800 |
Language learning through arts and crafts, traditional dance, music, community awareness events, and oratory |
Below are recipients of funding for community contributions towards Samoa Language Week preparations in 2022:
|
Organisation/Group Name |
Location |
Approved Amount |
Language |
Initiative focus |
|
FAGASĀ |
Auckland |
$12,000.00 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language week: language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music workshops |
|
Fotu o Malama Inc |
Auckland |
$12,000.00 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language week: language learning through speech competition; arts and craft; traditional dance; and music workshops |
|
SAASIA |
Auckland |
$12,000.00 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language week: language learning through arts and craft; traditional dance; and music workshops |
|
Fa'alapotopotoga Tagata Samoa Nelson Tasman Trust |
Tasman-Nelson |
$5,360.00 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language week: language learning workshops in schools; and arts and craft; traditional dance; and music workshops |
|
Falelalaga Cultural and Education Centre |
Auckland |
$5,000.00 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language week: language learning through oratory; storytelling; arts and craft; traditional and cultural practices, dance; and music workshops |
|
Multicultural Aoraki |
Canterbury |
$2,000.00 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language week: language learning through Community Awareness Events; arts and craft; traditional dance; and music workshops |
|
Ola Taumafai Charitable Trust Timaru |
Canterbury |
$1,413.00 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language week: language learning through Community Awareness Events; arts and craft; traditional dance; and music workshops |
Below are recipients of funding for community contributions towards Samoa Language Week preparations in 2021:
|
Organisation/Group Name |
Location |
Approved Amount |
Language |
Initiative focus |
|
Aiga Samoa Far North |
Kaitaia |
5,000.00 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language learning through church resources, cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music |
|
CCCS Youth |
Invercargill |
5,000.00 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music |
|
FAGASA |
Auckland |
15,000.00 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music |
|
Fotu O Mālama |
Auckland |
15,000.00 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music |
|
Lorenzo Kaisara |
Auckland |
5,000.00 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music |
|
SAASIA |
Auckland |
15,000.00 |
Gagana Samoa |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music |
