This year’s theme for Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week is Fakatumau kae fakaakoi tau ‘gana ke mautu a iloga o ‘ta tuā
Fakatumau kae fakaakoi tau ‘gana ke mautu a iloga o ‘ta tuā means 'preserve and embrace your language to safeguard our heritage identities'.
The 2023 theme connected to the overall Pacific Language Weeks theme of ‘sustainability’ and the launch of the UNESCO Decade of Indigenous languages. The theme reflected the importance of nurturing the Tuvaluan language in a sustainable manner.
The annual commemorations of Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu provide a reminder to all who identify as Tuvaluan to ‘preserve’, ‘embrace’ and ‘safeguard’ their language.
‘Preserving’ the Tuvalu language is a call to action to maintain the vibrant language. To ‘embrace’ Tuvalu language is to cherish its value. To ‘safeguard’ the language means that it is protected to ensure it can be used for generations. The Tuvalu ‘heritage identities’ are about the important ancestral heirlooms, and culture, which can be passed on through the language.
Bookmark this page to see our Calendar of Events for Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu and ways to get involved with Tuvalu Language Week.
Stay connected online by visiting the official NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook page.
Official Tuvalu Language Week posters (PDF)
|
Date |
Event |
Time |
Venue |
Host |
| Sunday 1 Oct |
Tuvalu Language Week Launch Service |
10am |
Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu Church 17 Aetna Place, Henderson, Auckland |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust |
|
Combined Opening Church Service of the Tuvalu Language Week. (This service will be livestream online.) Platform used will be Malagafou i Otautahi. Mission Outreach Facebook page.
|
9am - 11am |
Tirohanga Presbyterian Camp 214 Tirohanga Road RD2 Mosgiel Dunedin 9092 Otago |
MALAGAFOU I OTAUTAHI. MISSION OUTREACH | Facebook
|
|
|
Lotu Tala Sisiga Fuka Opening Service and Flag Raising |
10am-2pm |
The Square, Palmerston North |
Manawatu Tuvalu Community Trust |
|
|
Opening of Tuvalu Language Week Church Service in Tuvaluan Church Service conducted in the Tuvalu language. Tuvalu hymn competition |
11am-4pm |
Tuvalu Christian Church Wellington Waitangirua 6 Loongana Street, Waitangirua, Porirua |
Community, TCCW Church, FETU Church
|
|
|
OPENING OF TUVALU LANGUAGE WEEK
|
11am - 6pm |
Levin Uniting Church 87 Oxford Street, Levin
Levin North School 148 Weraroa Road, Levin |
Tagata Tuvalu Trust |
|
| Monday 2 Oct |
PMN Kids Book reading |
8am |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Flag Raising |
8am-8.40am |
Lyttelton Avenue, Porirua City Centre, Porirua 5022
|
Tuvalu flag raising with the Porirua City Council |
|
|
Alagapati (Prerecorded) |
9am |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
||
|
Flag raising ceremony at Horowhenua District Council |
9am-10.30am |
Horowhenua District Council 126-148 Oxford Street, Levin
|
Tagata Tuvalu Trust
|
|
|
Making of the ‘Wedding Veil’ from the island of Nanumea. Pre-recorded material
|
10am |
(This activity will be pre-recorded and upload to TTO Facebook for cultural resources, platform used will be TTO Facebook page)
|
Tagata Tuvalu Otautahi |
|
|
Nukulaelae Prerecorded Items |
10am-2pm |
NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook Page Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust Facebook Page |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Songs/Music of Tuvalu Singing of Tuvalu songs (meaning and purpose) |
10am-3pm |
Tuvalu Christian Church Wellington Waitangirua 6 Loongana Street, Waitangirua, Porirua
|
Tuvalu For All Trust with community and students.
|
|
|
‘Gana – (Alagamuna, Fakalagi) |
11am - 4pm |
Papaioea Pasifika Community Cenre 21 Havelock Avenue, Westbrook, Palmerston North 4412 |
Manawatu Tuvalu Community Trust
|
|
|
Tuvalu language programme at Toru Fetu Kindergarten |
12pm-2pm |
Toru Fetu Kindergarten 36a Astrolabe Street, Cannons Creek, Porirua |
Tagata Tuvalu Trust
|
|
|
Tuvalu Flag Raising |
1pm-3pm |
Kaiga Pasifika Building 4 Tenby Terrace, Flaxmere, Hawkes Bay 4120 |
Tuvalu Community Hawkes Bay Association |
|
|
Fatele Programme |
6pm-10pm |
Kaiga Pasifika Building 4 Tenby Terrace, Flaxmere, Hawkes Bay 4120 |
Tuvalu Community Hawkes Bay Association |
|
|
Old Historic Posts |
TBC |
TBC |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Tuesday 3 Oct |
PMN Kids Book reading |
8am |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Tugapati (Prerecorded) |
9am
|
NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook Page Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust Facebook Page
|
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Tuvalu language programme at Fanau Pasifika Kindergarten |
10am-12pm |
Fanau Pasifika Kindergarten 76a Cambridge Street, Levin
|
Tagata Tuvalu Trust
|
|
|
Showcasing our handicrafts and the Theme and Poster at Te Hapua Library Demonstration of the Tuvaluans way of presenting gifts/koha which called "Te Alofa" |
10am-3pm |
Te Hapua: Halswell Centre Mahoao Room 341 Halswell Road, Halswell Christchurch |
Tagata Tuvalu Otautahi |
|
|
Niutao (Prerecorded) |
10am-2pm |
NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook Page Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust Facebook Page |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Taumatua crafts display & entertainment |
10am-2pm |
Corban Estate Pasifika Arts Centre 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson, Auckland |
Te Uluniu Tuvalu Taumatua Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Cooking Session: Hands on Cooking for Youth Fakahakava a delicacy on Nanumaga (Benefits) Ika ota – A Tuvaluan delicacy (Benefits) |
10am-3pm |
Tuvalu Christian Church Wellington Waitangirua 6 Loongana Street, Waitangirua, Porirua
|
Tuvalu For All Trust Youth, Community & Others
|
|
|
Tala Kai – Fakaata, mako, fatele |
11am - 4pm |
Papaioea Pasifika Community Cenre 21 Havelock Avenue, Westbrook, Palmerston North 4412
|
Manawatu Tuvalu Community Trust
|
|
|
Nui (Prerecorded) |
4pm-8pm |
NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook Page Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust Facebook Page |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Telling story of Tuvalu History/ Video clips and Lauga o Niu, Ika, Tino |
6pm-10pm |
Kaiga Pasifika Building 4 Tenby Terrace, Flaxmere, Hawkes Bay 4120
|
Tuvalu Community Hawkes Bay Association |
|
|
Tuvalu Language Programmes |
TBC |
Family Homes |
Tagata Tuvalu Trust |
|
|
Wednesday 4 Oct |
PMN Kids Book reading |
8am |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Faigamuna (Prerecorded) |
9am
|
NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook Page Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust Facebook Page
|
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Making handicraft and cooking
|
10am-12pm |
Hall or home in Levin
|
Tagata Tuvalu Trust
|
|
|
Vaitupu (Prerecorded) |
10am-2pm |
NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook Page Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust Facebook Page |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Learning (Tech/Craft) Kids Learning: Tuvalu Language App Introducing the Tuvalu app (Discussions – are kids interested in this app?) Crafts: Tui fafetu making
|
10am-2pm |
Tuvalu Christian Church Wellington Waitangirua 6 Loongana Street, Waitangirua, Porirua
|
Tuvalu For All Trust Youth, Community & Others
|
|
|
Demonstrations of the game called “Te ano” (Prerecorded) |
11am |
(This activity will be pre-recorded and upload to TTO Facebook for cultural resources, platform used will be TTO Facebook page) |
By Puava Fiamalua Tagata Tuvalu Otautahi |
|
|
Lalaga – Meataulima, Titi, Fou |
11am - 4pm |
Papaioea Pasifika Community Cenre 21 Havelock Avenue, Westbrook, Palmerston North 4412 |
Manawatu Tuvalu Community Trust
|
|
|
Funafuti (Prerecorded) |
4pm-8pm |
NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook Page Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust Facebook Page |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Fishing Funafuna and Fekei Programme |
6pm-10pm |
Kaiga Pasifika Building 4 Tenby Terrace, Flaxmere, Hawkes Bay 4120
|
Tuvalu Community Hawkes Bay Association |
|
|
Tuvalu Language Programmes |
TBC |
Family Homes |
Tagata Tuvalu Trust |
|
|
Thursday 5 Oct |
PMN Kids Book reading |
8am |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Alagapati (Prerecorded) |
9am
|
NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook Page Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust Facebook Page
|
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Making of the Local Dancing box by the Youth and the men. (Prerecorded) |
10am |
(This activity will be pre-recorded and upload to TTO Facebook for cultural resources, platform used will be TTO Facebook page) |
Tagata Tuvalu Otautahi Men |
|
|
Nukufetau (Prerecorded) |
10am-2pm |
NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook Page Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust Facebook Page |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Disability Day and Tuvalu Arts and crafts display |
10am- 2pm |
Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu Church 17 Aetna Place, Henderson, Auckland |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust |
|
|
Quiz & Tafaoga Tuvalu |
11am - 4pm |
Papaioea Pasifika Community Cenre 21 Havelock Avenue, Westbrook, Palmerston North 4412 |
Manawatu Tuvalu Community Trust
|
|
|
Nanumea (Prerecorded) |
4pm-8pm |
NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook Page Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust Facebook Page |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Health Awareness Programme (Heart/Diabetes) Raise the awareness of Tuvaluans on non-communicable diseases affecting Tuvaluans in New Zealand. |
4pm-8pm |
Tuvalu Christian Church Wellington Waitangirua 6 Loongana Street, Waitangirua, Porirua
|
Tuvalu For All Trust
|
|
|
Topic: Writing/ Reading in Tuvalu words |
6pm-10pm |
Kaiga Pasifika Building 4 Tenby Terrace, Flaxmere, Hawkes Bay 4120
|
Tuvalu Community Hawkes Bay Association |
|
|
Community ALOFA to the Rt Hon Dr Sir Tomasi Puapua & Lady Riana Puapua
|
TBC |
Feilding
|
Tagata Tuvalu Trust
|
|
|
Tuvalu Language Programmes |
TBC |
Family Homes |
Tagata Tuvalu Trust |
|
|
Friday 6 Oct |
PMN Kids Book reading |
8am |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Sport Kilikiti (Children) Ano (Adult) |
8am-4pm |
TBC – Park |
Tuvalu For All Trust |
|
|
Tugapati (Prerecorded) |
9am
|
NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook Page Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust Facebook Page
|
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Nanumaga (Prerecorded) |
10am-2pm |
NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook Page Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust Facebook Page |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Tuvalu Language Wek Programme – Tuvalu Dance Fatele and Siva |
6pm-10pm |
Age Flaxmere Hall |
Tuvalu Community Hawkes Bay Association |
|
|
Youth Quiz & Social Night |
TBC |
TBC |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Old Historic Posts |
TBC |
TBC |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
Arrival of Tuvalu families from Hastings |
TBC |
Levin Kiwi Holiday Park 38 Parker Avenue, Levin |
Tagata Tuvalu Trust
|
|
| Saturday 7 Oct |
Faigamuna (Prerecorded) |
9am
|
NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook Page Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust Facebook Page
|
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
Tuu mo Faiga Masani o Toku Fenua Fakamanatuga ote 45 Tausaga ote Tutokotasi o Tuvalu 2023 Celebrations |
8am-12pm |
(This activity will be livestream upload to TTO Facebook for cultural resources, platform used will be TTO Facebook page) |
Tagata Tuvalu Otautahi Incorporated |
|
|
Closing Independence Celebrations Tuvalu independence – Displaying flavours of Tuvalu and costumes. Come taste and see…. |
9am-4pm |
Te Akapuanga Kuki Airani Hall Cannon's Creek |
Tuvalu For All Trust
|
|
|
Eight Island Fenua Communities celebrations of Independence Day and Closing Tuvalu Language Week |
9am onwards |
TBC |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust
|
|
|
CELEBRATION OF TUVALU INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY Together with the Tuvalu community from Hastings |
10am-5pm |
Horowhenua Learning Centre 102 Liverpool Street, Levin |
Tagata Tuvalu Trust
|
|
|
CLOSING OF TUVALU LANGUAGE WEEK
|
10am-3pm |
Horowhenua Learning Centre 102 Liverpool Street, Levin |
Tagata Tuvalu Trust
|
|
|
Celebration of Tuvalu Language Week
|
11am-4pm |
TBC |
Manawatu Tuvalu Community Trust
|
|
|
Tuvalu Aotearoa Punuaagogo performance |
12pm |
Park Road, Parnell, Auckland 1010 |
Auckland War Memorial Museum |
Below are recipients of funding for community contributions towards Tuvalu Language Week preparations in 2022:
|
Organisation/Group Name |
Location |
Approved Amount |
Language |
Initiative focus |
|
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust |
Auckland |
20,300.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through digital/online learning, arts and crafts, dance, music, oratory and community awareness events |
|
Tagata Tuvalu Otautahi |
Christchurch |
8,000.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through traditional dance, oratory, music, arts and crafts and community awareness events |
|
Tuvalu For All Trust |
Wellington |
4,200.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through digital/online learning and arts and crafts |
|
Tuvalu Dunedin Community |
Dunedin |
3,987.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through traditional dance, arts and crafts, oratory and sports |
|
Tuvalu Community Hawkes Bay |
Hawkes Bay |
3,200.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through arts and crafts, music, oratory, dance, digital/online learning; and community awareness events |
|
Manawatu Tuvalu Community Trust |
Manawatu-Whanganui |
3,000.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through music, dance, oratory and community awareness events |
|
Tuvalu Hamilton Community Association |
Hamilton |
1,800.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through traditional dance, arts and crafts, music, and oratory |
Below are recipients of funding for community contributions towards Tuvalu Language Week preparations in 2021:
|
Organisation/Group Name |
Location |
Approved Amount |
Language |
Initiative focus |
|
Manawatu Tuvalu Community Trust |
Palmerston North |
5,000.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, and storytelling |
|
Tagata Tuvalu Otautahi |
Christchurch |
15,000.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, cooking, dance, and music |
|
Tagata Tuvalu Trust |
Otaki |
8,800.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, and storytelling |
|
Taulanga Malie Reformed Christian Church Trust in Tauranga |
Tauranga |
5,000.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft |
|
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust |
Auckland |
20,850.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music |
|
Tuvalu Community Hawkes Bay |
Napier |
3,500.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling and intergenerational passing of knowledge from Elders to Youth |
|
Tuvalu Community Tauranga |
Tauranga |
5,100.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, arts and craft, dance and music |
|
Tuvalu Dunedin Community |
Dunedin |
3,925.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning classes for beginners |
|
Tuvalu For All Trust |
Wellington |
6,350.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, cooking, weaving, arts and craft, dance, music and developed language learning online resources |
|
Tuvalu Whangarei Community |
Whangarei |
4,500.00 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, poems, arts and craft, dance and music |
|
Victoria University Pasifika Student Council |
Wellington |
1,030 |
Te Gana Tuvalu |
Language learning through cultural practices, oratory, storytelling, poems, arts and craft, dance and music |
