Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga

Si’oto’ofa. Ko hoku hingoa ko Seini Lātū pea ‘oku ou lele mai mei he Langi Tu’ulilo, Loutokaiano, pea pehe ki he Funga Tufi Tele moe Hufangalupe. ‘Oku ou fiefia aupito keu vahevahe atu ‘ae mahu’inga ‘oe Uike Katoanga’i lea fakatonga kiate au.

My name is Seini Fatafehi Nofo I lelenga Lātū. I am the youngest child of Tevita Kaliopasi Ahokava Lātu from Kotu – Ha’apai & Folaha and Seini Talanoa from Vaini & Mataika Vava’u. I was born and raised in Avondale, Auckland. I am a proud Aunty Nini to my 'kids' - 6 nieces, 1 nephew. Beloved partner to Takai Tonga from Te’ekiu and Kolomotu’a and the reluctant owner of 1 cat – Pluto from the streets.

Seini Lātū is the Te Ūnga Kairuruku – Schools and Community Recruitment Adviser for the Schools and Community Engagement Team and is embedded in the Faculty of Science. Seini studied and worked in the G.L.A.M. (Galleries, Libraries, Archives & Museums) sector for a number of years and is passionate about cultural heritage and knowing where we’ve come from in order to navigate where we’re going. She now works in a space of community engagement where she can encourage and empower our younger generation to utilize their culture and their heritage through higher education.

“I see Tongan language week as a chance to merge the 2 worlds we often straddle as Pasifika people growing up in Aotearoa. I really appreciate how the celebration of our languages has grown from strength to strength each year in work spaces but in particular in our schools. I especially love any excuse to wear Tongan attire to work and literally paint the town red” explains Seini.

She was lucky enough to have staunch parents who ensured their language stayed strong within their home.

“I grew up with lea faka Tonga. My father banned English in our household which at the time I resented. But as an adult now I am so thankful he did so because I can now speak and write in Tongan fluently” she says.

The theme for Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga this year is; Ke Tu'uloa 'a e lea faka-Tonga 'i Aotearoa, which means Sustaining the Tonga Language in Aotearoa. For Seini, this means using the Tongan language every chance she gets.

“To me this year's theme means I need to stop reverting to English when I’m too lazy to speak Tongan to my parents, family and friends. It means encouraging my kids and friends, who aren’t fluent Tongan, to speak Tongan one word at a time until they are confident. To sustain the language we need to use it and be proud to do so. And so I challenge myself and the Tongan community to make every week Tongan language week. Even if you aren’t fluent - listen to Tongan music, utilize the free Tongan language courses available, join a Tongan group. Don’t be discouraged by your peers, be emboldened to speak, live and breathe Tongan, it is your inheritance”.

Seini describes what she loves most about being Tongan.

“I love how mafana we are. Depending on the context or the occasion, mafana means a number of things – passionate, elated, heart-warming, hysteria, euphoria and more. The world saw/sees how mafana we are. Whether it’s our Tongan League team, a Tongan flag bearer, a Tongan relief effort for the recent Volcanic Eruption, Tongan anything we put our all in and support with mafana. What people don’t realize is this is the norm for us in every aspect of our life. We apply Mate Ma’a Tonga mentality to everything we do. Seeing the personification of Mafana every time something in our community happens is what I love. No matter which part of the world we are living in at the time, you will always find a Tongan who is mafana about being Tongan and about repping our wonderful Kingdom”.

Seini has always felt connected to her ethnicity. The privilege of having a strong identity is not lost on her. With a father who made sure she grew up speaking, living and breathing the language and culture, Seini knows how fortunate she is to have connection. Discovering ‘Polyfest’ during her time at highschool, Seini found a deeper love for faiva fakatonga (Tongan performing arts). This continued when she found T.A.U.A. the Tongan students association in her time as a student here at the university.

Through T.A.U.A. Seini became a leader who encouraged students to Tupulekina ihe anga fakatonga – To grow within the Tongan Culture. And now working at the University she is supported to wear, speak and represent her ethnicity. Seini’s advice for Tongan students is to keep utilising who you are in all you do.

“My hope for Tongan students is that they utilize and celebrate their Tongan culture and language during their tertiary journey. Too often we hear stats about all the ways we are failing in life because we are Tongan, or all the bad things that have happened in our community, or all the reasons why we need a leg up. But I say ignore that. We come from a sea of islands and our knowledge, our Indigenous Tongan knowledge is power. You are descendants of kings and queens and you will always be royal. Being Tongan and speaking Tongan is a tool, not a barrier” she says.

“Remember the famous Tongan proverb – Si’i pe, kae hā – Small but great. We often use this when referring to our Kingdom that is small but great. But I encourage Tongans to apply this when making every effort in sustaining our language in Aotearoa. Take it one word at a time and know that no matter how small the effort is, it is great. ‘Ofa ke mou ma’u ha Uike Kātoanga’I ‘o e Lea Faka-Tonga lelei mo fiefia – Happy Tongan Language Week”.