‘Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki 'Airani - Cook Islands Māori Language Week

Celebrate: 4 - 10 August

The 2024 theme for Cook Islands Māori Language Week is ‘Ātui’ia au ki te vaka o tōku matakeinanga - connect me to the canoe of my tribe’

This theme derives from the overarching Language Week Series theme for 2024, 'Sustainability'.

Visit the Ministry for Pacific Peoples website: https://www.mpp.govt.nz/programmes/pacific-language-weeks/cook-islands-maori-language-week/

Kia orana and meitaka rava to all those who have contributed to celebrating te epetoma o te reo Kuki Airani - Cook Island Language Week this week.

The 2024 theme for Cook Island Language week is ‘Atui’ia au ki te vaka o toku matekainanga - connect me to the canoe of my tribe’ as well as the overarching theme for all the language weeks of ‘sustainability.’ 

How do we maintain and sustain our languages, culture and identity in places where we as Pacific nations are a minority? How do we encourage the speaking of our island languages and celebrating who we are our identity and where we come from? 

The weeks annually given over to celebrating Pacific Island Language weeks are one small way of helping to maintain and sustain our languages. We give thanks that the Ministry of Pacific Island Peoples has carved out a way forward for us as a nation and country to acknowledge and recognise the Pacific Island groups which contribute to Aotearoa the New Zealand way of life.

Rev Ali'itasi Aoina-Salesa
Superintending Chaplain