Tonga Language Week

PAST EVENT

 

Pukepuke ‘o Tonga

The children and youth of community arts organization Pukepuke ‘o Tonga will perform an reenactment of the legend of Tangaloa Eitumatupu'a and his demi-god son 'Aho'eitu. The focus brings us to the first Tu'i Tonga: 'Aho'eitu, his journey back to his father and how he came to rule Tonga.

Tuaikaepau

The Tuaikaepau Tongan Group from Manurewa High School will perform a traditional Lakalaka and a contemporary Mate Ma'a Tonga. Both of these performances highlight the majesty of Tongan culture and language, and the importance of cherishing one's Tongan heritage.

Praize Vuna

Talented solo artist Praize Vuna will perform some of her own compositions written in Tongan at home with her father. Song composition at home in the family nest is yet another way for her to maintain and sustain her Tongan language.

Ko e ngaahi koloa mahu‘inga ‘a e fāmili ko e konga ia ‘e taha hotau hisitolia. ‘Oku ne ‘omai ha ongo ‘ofa ki hotau tupu‘anga ‘i he ‘etau ‘ilo‘i kohai kitautolu mo e kakai na‘a tau tupu mei ai. Ko e ngaahi koloa mahu‘inga ‘a e fāmili ‘oku fa‘a kau ki ai ‘a e ngaahi ‘ata, ‘alapama, ngaahi tohi, pea mo e ngaahi fakamatala mahu‘inga.

Ko hono tokanga‘i mo tauhi ‘a e ngaahi naunau ko ‘eni ‘oku fakatefito ai ‘a ‘ene tolonga. Ko e ngaahi founga ‘eni te ne tokoni‘i koe ki hono tauhi ke malu ‘a e ngaahi hohoko ho fāmili ma‘a kinautolu he kaha‘u.

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_{Family archives are part of our history. We draw a sense of identity from knowing who we are and where we’ve come from. Archives may include photographs, albums, letters, and important documents. Handling and storage of our family collections directly impacts how long they last. These guidelines will help you preserve your family archives for future generations.}

ACCESS THE TOOLKIT

Fakatapu ki he ‘afio ‘a e tolu taha'i ‘Otua. Fakatapu ki he ngaahi  tu'u ki mu'a ‘o e ngaue'anga ni. Fakatapu ki ha sola mo ha vulangi, kae ‘atā mo e finemotu'a ni keu lave nounou atu ki hoku tupu'anga pea moe mahu'inga kiate au ‘a hono fakatolonga mo kātoanga'i ‘o e uike lea faka-Tonga. 

Mālō e lelei, my name is 'Asinate Faka'osifolau-Williams. I work in the Visitor Services team as the Bookings & Sales Coordinator.

My father hails from the villages of Ha'ateiho, located in the center of the main island Tongatapu and Tungua which is a small Island of the Ha'apai outer island groups. My mother hails from ‘Utulau located on the Southern side of the main Island, Tongatapu and Vaipoa, another outer island group of Niuatoputapu which is located closer to Samoa.

The theme for this year’s language week is 'E tu'uloa ‘a e lea faka-Tongá ‘o ka lea'aki ‘i ‘api, siasi´ moe nofo-‘a-kainga´ which translates to “Tongan language will be sustainable if used at home, church and in the wider community. The relevance of this to my role as a Bookings and Sale Coordinator is customer focused. I pride myself in being able to use my language to support those of Tongan heritage who may have language restrictions. It is uplifting to see visitors from the Tongan community smile when hearing a simple greeting in my native tongue, Mālō e lelei. Experiencing those moments make it that more important for me to promote the importance of keeping the Tongan language alive.

I believe it is important to revitalize and sustain the Tongan language as it defines who I am and is primarily how others in society distinguish and identify me as a Tongan. Having knowledge of the Tongan language is an anchor holding me grounded to my roots regardless of where I am.

There is a Tongan proverb “Fifii ika maka” the wrapping of rock fish in leaves. To prepare this type of fish as a meal, it must be carefully wrapped up in woven coconut leaves in order to preserve it before it is either baked or cooked underground. This depicts something of great value needing great care for preservation. This Tongan proverb reminds us that the knowledge of lea faka-Tonga is so valuable and it is important to sustain our language because if it becomes extinct, we too will lose a part of our identity as Tongan people.

I leave you with a quote I often hear; “Ko e koloa ‘o e Tonga´ ko e fakamālō” (A Tongan’s only treasure is to express or say thank you). A small gesture or word of thanks is the greatest start to honouring our Tongan heritage, speaking the language and keeping it alive for the generations to come.

Tu‘a ‘ofa atu.

More Tongan people are currently born in New Zealand than in Tonga. As such, Aotearoa has a special role in celebrating lea Faka-Tonga mo e 'ulungaanga Faka-Tonga (Tongan language and culture).

Learn more about how the Museum is taking part within this role.

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Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi is a famous Tongan community leader and artist who hails from the village of Ngelei‘a, on Tongatapu. Tohi is a master craftsman of the ancient Pacific art of lalava or lashing.  

Lalava is the technology used to bind objects together in traditional Pacific architecture, tools and vaka (canoe) building. Tohi often uses the patterns of lashings to symbolize the unity of all things, past, present and future. He explains,

"My work transforms the technology of the past into a modern representation of identity and experience.  By using the patterns established by lalava, I express a Polynesian heritage with metaphors that speak to our entire community."

Tohi has exhibited over the world and has sculpture in international collections including Japan, China, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Tonga, Samoa and the USA.  An example of his metal sculpture is called “Hautaha (Coming Together)” and is located outside the community centre in Onehunga in Auckland. Other artwork can be seen across Aotearoa New Zealand including in Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, the University of Auckland’s Pasifika Fale, and Puke Ariki in New Plymouth.  Tohi’s sculptures from 1980 to 2000 were mainly created in stone, wood, and mixed media, but works made since 2000 are often created from metal, using aluminum or stainless steel. He notes, 

"For me, stainless steel represents the shiny new structures of the modern world. Wood is based more in tradition – in natural things from our environment."

Find as many Tongan words as you can in this wordfinder, and maybe learn a few new ones along the way. When you're finished, you can find the answers here.

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