Rotuma Language Week celebrated in Aotearoa

A flag-raising ceremony marking the start of Rotuma Language Week at Porirua Peace Memorial in Wellington, New Zealand.

The Rotuman language is the first Pacific language to be celebrated this year as part of the Ministry of Pacific Peoples' Language Weeks series.

Rotumans come from an island about 650km north-northwest of Suva. It is legally classified as a dependency of Fiji, though it is treated as the country's 15th province in many official Fijian government contexts.

The theme of their language week this year is: "Treasure, nurture and teach our Rotuman language and culture so it may live on through generations".

According to the Ministry of Pacific Peoples (MPP), fewer than 1000 people in Aotearoa identify as Rotuman and the language is listed as 'definitely endangered' by UNESCO.

A member of the Rotuman community Surava Tikoca said it is encouraging to see efforts being taken to ensure the language is preserved.

"What we are seeing is a genuine revival of the language," Tikoca said.

"That's something [that] really lightens my heart, that my children are now growing up in a space where they can access those opportunities, and although we are away from Rotuma, away from Fiji, they still have it an opportunity to learn with Mum at home."

She said the best way to help the Rotuman language grow and thrive is to practice it - and she is pleased that there are more resources available to learn the language now.

"Practice the language cards - the Ministry of Pacific Peoples also have all those resources alongside other resources that are available. Please try and make use of those, speak it with us, come along this journey with us.

"We would love to be able to grow alongside everyone else."

A New Zealand Rotuman Fellowship member said the community is benefiting from having their language included in the Pacific language weeks celebrations.

The fellowship is a cultural group for all Rotumans living in New Zealand.

Eleana Inoke said the language week has led to many young Rotuman people wanting to know more about their language and culture.

"Since the introduction of the language weeks, and I guess not making it cool but putting it on a platform where everyone responds and wants to champion, now we are getting a lot of young people invested in learning the language, signing up for classes, speaking at events," Inoke said.

"We are holding more events that they can come in and learn and share, that's been really cool."

A Rotuman elder said the New Zealand Rotuman Fellowship group was formed from a wish to teach their language to their children.

The fellowship was formed in 1989.

Akanisi Kulatea said her hope is that their young people recognise how important their language and culture is.

"It is for our young people, born here in Aotearoa, and of course, parents to speak it at home, that's all we want them to do well but it keeps our culture and language alive, that's the whole aim."

The Porirua City Council celebrates the Pacific language weeks over the year.

Each of these languages is celebrated with a formal flag-raising ceremony, followed by a week of colourful and inspiring community-led events.

Mayor Anita Baker said the Pacific culture is celebrated in Porirua.

"We are 26 percent Pacific in Porirua, so it is huge, and the different languages and cultures as you hear walking around the city is something to celebrate."

Rotuma language week runs until 16 May with events and activities being held in communities around New Zealand.