(UPBEAT PERCUSSIVE MUSIC) Captions by Able. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2025 - Halo olgeta, kam na mauri, and welcome to Tagata Pasifika. On the show today ` Samoan Language Week is around the corner. So how hard is it for our New Zealand-born to learn gagana Samoa? We find out in our talanoa. In our Pacific News Wrap this week, the Cook Islands register a dengue fever outbreak. - At this stage, there's no cause for alarm, but it does give us an opportunity now to make sure we take steps to prevent any further spread. - And back here, the Aoga Amata is the backbone of gagana Samoa. But they face unique new challenges. - The main challenge for Aoga is the dominant of the Western view. - Taeao manuia and welcome to the polokalame. Vaiaso O Le Gagana Samoa, or Samoa Language Week, begins this weekend with celebrations across Aotearoa. The theme this year is Ia Malu Lou Sa Folau I Lagima ` A Well-grounded Self Is A Successful Self. Here to talanoa about the Language Week is the head of Samoan language department at Papatoetoe High School in Auckland, Timo Morisa. Taeao manuia to you, Timo. - Taeao manuia e lou, John. Malo le soifua maua ma le lagi ma. - Malo 'aupito for joining us on the show, uso. Let's talk about this celebration. It's been celebrated since 2007. Why is it so important? - Oh, the language ` gagana Samoa and the celebration of it in New Zealand is really important for not only Samoans who have come from Samoa, but especially for our New Zealand-born Samoans, or the communities of Samoa who are here in New Zealand. It's a chance to celebrate, to acknowledge and to be proud of who we are. - Yeah, and very proud indeed, because you're now teaching the language at Papatoetoe High School. But you are a New Zealand-born. - Yes I am. - What's it like for you to teach the language to the students? Cos I understand you teach it right through from year nine to year 13. - Yes. Fa'afetai mo le fesili. It's a blessing to be able to teach the gagana in high school, and it's now an accredited subject. - Fantastic. - It's been for a while now. You can get NCEA credits. There's pathways into university for learning gagana Samoa and doing assessments, and it's... it's very` it makes me very proud to be able to teach the language that I also learnt growing up to students in our school. - Is it predominantly Samoan Samoan students, or is it a mix? Do you have non-Samoans that are learning the language? - Yes, there's a mix. There mainly are Samoan students. Uh, there's a whole bunch of them who are half Samoan, half Cook Island, half Tongan. We have some` In my classes, I have a few Fijian students. Bula, bula. (LAUGHS) We have a few Maori students. We have, um, I remember having a few Palagi students who were wanting to learn gagana Samoa. So it's great to see the interest is there. - I love it, very diverse class. Now we've got some time here for some fun facts. - (CHUCKLES) - Gagana Samoa is the most spoken language in Aotearoa New Zealand. It's also the third most spoken language in the country, behind English and te reo Maori, and the second most spoken language in Tamaki Makaurau. That's fantastic. Is this still the case today? - Uh, from what I see, yes. I do feel that, uh, slowly, if the Samoan community are not careful, we may lose more of our language and speakers of the language, so it's really important for us to continue to use, nurture and teach our language. - What could be hindering the growth of the language? - Uh, I think our fast-paced society. Access to things that are quick and English language, uh, as we see, is the medium everywhere, in New Zealand anyways. And it's fast and easier to use the English language, but I really, really feel and encourage our Samoan community to use our beautiful native tongue; to communicate with our kids, in our community groups, our churches, and in all spaces that we are working in. - Yeah, that's an important to note there. Even in this fast-paced world, you're also adapting. You're finding innovative ways. I hear that you're quite the TikToker. - (LAUGHS) Well, I thought` My dad always says to me and to our family, 'You know, social media is a gift and a blessing. 'Make good use of it.' - Tell us what you're doing with... - Well, I've tried to` A lot of people reached out and said there weren't many resources. There are resources available, but just people find it easier to just jump online. So I created a few TikTok videos to help teach basics` gagana Samoa basics. And the feedback and the engagement was quite strong, surprisingly. So I did a few more and, yeah, it's been going well. - Do you find that's the way to do it, is to use what the young people are using nowadays to make sure that the language is, you know, being taught or learned? - Uh, yes and no. Yes, because it can be a very powerful tool in being useful for students and not just young people, even adult learners who are still trying to learn the language. But also, just as a caution, it's always good to` for other people who just jump online and share without knowing for sure what they're talking about. It's really important for us to be careful that we're not just listening and learning off anyone online, but making sure that the information is correct. Because I've seen a few videos myself of people teaching language online and it's not necessarily correct. - That is an important note as well, because there's so much content. - Yes, a lot of content. - It's making sure that you use the right one. - Yes. - We're slowly wrapping up our talanoa, but how will you be celebrating and marking this Samoan Language Week this year? - Ooh. Well, the opening of Samoa Language Week is hosted at our school this Sunday. We have 17 to 18 high schools that teach gagana Samoa in Auckland all gather at our school hall on Sunday, and we open it officially with a ceremony. Each school has to perform an item, so it's a big show, big feed after. And then during the week, not only my school, but other schools have all sorts of programs ` performances, pageants, spelling bees, karaoke, umu day, feasts. So it's going to be a big week of celebration for all schools across` from ECE all the way up to high school and university, I'm sure. - Well, we wish you the very best with the launch and the celebrations to come. Fa'afetai tele lava. - Fa'afetai lava, John. - Ia manuia Le Vaiaso O Le Gagana Samoa. All right, aiga, stay with us. When we come back, we have our Pacific News Wrap. And this week, the Cook Islands take precautions against a dengue fever outbreak. - The government, now, in anticipation of any more cases coming up, is looking to mobilise Operation Namu, which will look to reduce the incidence of the spread of dengue fever. (UPBEAT PERCUSSIVE MUSIC) - Ni sa bula vinaka, talofa, and welcome to Tagata Pasifika. It's time now for our news wrap from the region thanks to our partners at Pasifika TV, PCBL. Now, this, week the Solomon Islands mark International Bee Day. Very buzzy. The Cook Islands deal with a dengue fever outbreak, and Fiji is encouraging more people into business, and Samoa will have a snap election. Gladys Hartson has the details. - To Samoa first, and after four years of a five-year term, the FAST Party government, led by Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa is set to go to the polls. - What's happened in Parliament today will go down in the history books of Samoa, as the majority of members of Parliament rejected the tabling of the main budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year. In her ministerial speech, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa reiterated her statement made in January that only Parliament has the authority to decide the fate of a government. Deputy leader of the opposition, Lauofo Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo, sought clarification from the speaker of the House on when a vote would be held to determine where Members of Parliament stand regarding the budget. Opposition Leader Tuila'epa Sai'ilele Malielegaoi pointed out that this is the third time in Samoa's history a vote of no confidence has determined the fate of a government. The last time being in 1982. The results of the vote of no confidence showed 16 members in support of the budget, while 34 voted against it. Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa conceded defeat in parliament and accepted the outcome of the vote. She told Parliament that she stands by the words she spoke earlier this year and thanked all members for their service and commitments over the past four years. Fiame states that her caretaker government will proceed with the next steps, including advising the head of states on the dissolution of parliament and preparations for the next general election. It is now confirmed that the FAST government's first term in office has ended prematurely. - To the Cook Islands, and the government and health officials are rolling out a program to deal with the dengue fever outbreak. - Over the last couple of months, there's been eight cases detected of dengue fever. So the government now, in anticipation of any more cases coming up, is looking to mobilise Operation Namu, which will look to reduce the incidence of the spread of dengue fever. - So when we do identify cases, we then mobilise` mobilise our public health team to go out and do perifocal spraying, which is spraying around the immediate area of those identified to have positive readings for dengue. We also would spray around the area too, the immediate area, around about 200m radius around that identified area. - So at this stage, there's no cause for alarm, but it does give us an opportunity now to make sure we take steps to prevent any further spread. - In the Solomon Islands, where they're raising awareness around the importance of bees for the environment and sustainable living. - People probably, I would say, uh, undervalue the importance of bees and the pollinators, because we get to enjoy the fruits, but they don't know the stories behind it, yeah? 75% of the food that we eat, uh, grow around us and to do with bees and the pollinators. So we wanna amplify that messaging. - Lots of things where bees hem helpim, hem helpim nature blo yumi ` forest, trees blo yumi. Without these small bees, by yu no garem greens, yeah, and no any pollination of trees. So be a part of helpim nature and creation and ecosystem blo yumi. - And still in the Solomons ` the important role youth play in the future of the country is being discussed. - With a large youth population, the National Youth Congress is exploring ways to support young people in becoming positive contributors and future leaders in their communities. The General Secretary, Josie Anne Ashley, says reaching every youth remains a challenge, but she believes that with ongoing collaboration, steady progress can be made nationwide. - For the Solomon Islands National Youth Congress, I think it's our role to create these platforms, making it more frequent and regular, just for young people yumi garem the spaces, where all save engage, where all save dialogue, where all save also connecting to government, for sharing voices. Um, we will also through this workshop be connecting them with the government and also other different stakeholders. - To Fiji now, where the next generation of business entrepreneurs is getting a leg up from the government. - Designed as a multifaceted business incubator, the Graduate Business Start-Up Grant Scheme aims to decrease the entrepreneurial journey for graduates by equipping them with knowledge, skills, resources and hands-on experience. - So, in the short to medium term, it will allow them to access further blended financing with donors and banks, including new financing facilities such as equity crowdfunding, for which we have passed a legislation earlier this year. - I came with a reason ` that is to create reef engineering and investment. A company that reflects purpose, community and resilience. Honestly, guys, I also came in with uncertainties, like many of us do. This programme ` it changed that. - And finally, in sport ` Fijian Drua hosted their annual awards celebrating men and women players. - Togiatama won the Dausoko Award on the weekend for the Drua, and he's one of the pioneers who started this wonderful journey. - It's given me another year to be with the Drua. It would be my fifth year next year. Um, and I'm hoping, again, to, I guess, when I do leave, leave it in a better place than when I arrived. - I thank you for always supporting me and the love and the prayers. Um, every game, they always stand beside me. - Isa wananavu. Ten kiu tru. After the break, with Samoa Language Week around the corner, how are our gagana language early learning centres coping? - We're not teaching Samoan; we are using Samoan to deliver the curriculum for our children, and it's very hard to find teachers that are fluent, because they needed to pass this English language test before they enter. (LIVELY PERCUSSIVE MUSIC) - Fa'atalofa atu i le mamalu ole tatou atunu'u ` welcome back to Tagata Pasifika. To education now, where Pasifika language and cultural identity continue to be nurtured in our youngest learners, and where early learning centres play a key role in this ` but, as Hanalei Temese-Foliaki reports, some are facing unique challenges. - HANALEI TEMESE-FOLIAKI: Across Aotearoa, there are over a hundred Pacific early learning services. Most are small, community-run and deeply rooted in culture. But at the heart of these services is language ` a priority for many families who want their children to grow up grounded in their identity. - Oh, I've always thought it was an important thing for our Pasifika children ` especially, yeah, our Samoan children, to know their identity, to know where they're from and who they are. Being able to teach it and be proud of our own culture and seeing our children, you know, coming out and saying, 'Oh, yeah, I'm Samoan, I'm Samoan,' this sort of thing, you know, is real encouraging. - But these centres are also navigating unique pressures, expected to deliver the same standards as mainstream services while also upholding language, culture and community expectations. - When we're assessed through Western eyes ` or the Western society eyes ` you know, sometimes it's` it feels like our culture is undervalued. Not many mainstream will do it, but we do a lotu in the mornings, because spirituality is very important to our people. And then also, um... the Maoris have it as tuakana teina, but also, um, us allowing for our elders to be a part of our children's learnings. And I think sometimes, I don't think we were able to sort of word it in a way that they thought, oh, you know, it was valuable. - 'They' being the Education Review Office, or ERO, who monitor compliance across all early learning centres. But for Aoga Amata, the reviews can be daunting, especially when cultural frameworks don't always align with Western standards. - The service that we provide in Aoga Amata is all-around service. The well-being of the children is very important, and well-being is holistically viewed and practised, um, from a Samoan perspective. So it's not individualistic in the way that we just look at the child; it's about the child, the family. So we've created models, uh, that can capture and reflect the essence of... of our sense of being. - In recent years, some centres have lost licences or closed down after failing to meet regulations ` a situation advocates say reflects systemic issues rather than a lack of value or effort. - I think the main challenge for our aoga is the dominant of the Western view. Um, you know, and especially when they come to our Aoga Amata, they come with that lens to assess the work that we do. When parents can't afford to pay their fees, we still allow them to come to the aoga, um, and, um... So if there are no fees, less funding from the Ministry, so our centre struggles. Sometimes we do it out of our service and the love that we have for our community. And praying ` that's very powerful for us. We pray that we still sustain the service. - There are 113 licensed Pacific early learning centres nationwide, but sustainability remains a concern, with staff shortages and a lack of qualified fluent educators. - We can get teachers that can speak the language and bilingual, but not in full-immersion centres like my centre ` we'll never hire a person that can't speak Samoan. That's part of our requirements. It's for our language to survive. We have to be strong on whatever we can do to make sure that our children will survive with our language and their identity and our culture. - Samoan is a medium of instruction. We're not teaching Samoan; we are using Samoan to deliver the curriculum for our children, and it's very hard to find teachers that are fluent because of the IELTS ` they needed to pass this English language test before they enter. There's a` that fence here that is stopping us from getting in the tertiary, you know, to get our degrees. - In West Auckland, SAASIA and Healthy Families Waitakere are helping to fill the gap, offering professional and well-being support through a community-led initiative called Tafesilafa'i. - Tafesilafa'i was born out of COVID four years ago. At Healthy Families Waitakere, we sit in the health prevention, health promotion pipeline. And so what we did is we sent out a sort of survey to our ECE communities, and there was an overwhelming response from our Aoga Amata centres in terms of them needing some support and assistance. Before Tafesilafa'i was even developed, we recognised that our Aoga Amata teachers, they worked in silo, so they didn't actually know each other; they didn't connect with each other. So Tafesilafa'i has really brought them together, and what that has meant for this collective is, um, an increase in confidence. - It's been awesome now having this mafutaga, this connection, this collective body where we can actually share talanoa, share, um` and also share experiences, but also share, um, our success stories. - With planned changes to review frameworks and new supports for bilingual teachers, there's hope that the Pacific early learning centres will get the recognition and resources they deserve. - My hope and prayer is that, um, we` the government will support the work that we do, because it works. It works for our people. - I'm hoping that Tafesilafa'i will get more funding and support for them to carry on the good work that they have done, to sustain these programmes for our teachers and for our children in Aotearoa and the world to be able to learn their language and be proud of it, and that's their identity wherever they are. When they speak, they can tell you're a Samoan. (CHUCKLES) - Fa'afetai tele lava. Malo galue. Well, that's the end of our polokalame. Enjoy Samoan Language Week celebrations, and, uh, if you want to see any of our stories again or the latest Pacific news, go to tpplus.co.nz or TVNZ+. For now, have a great weekend, Aotearoa. Tofa soifua. Manuia lou aso. - # People of the sun, to our new home bound. # Tagata Pasifika, # born a people proud. # People of the sun... # Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air.