Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa 2024

This year’s theme for Sāmoa Language Week focuses on the practice of ‘tautua’  (service) and aptly fits in with the Pacific Language Weeks’ overarching theme of sustainability.

The phrase ‘serve in love' focuses on the concept of tautua underpinned by love. For Sāmoans, there can be no greater calling to be of service, regardless of what that looks like (or the recipient) in the act of supporting the community. The act of service is accomplished through the power of love.

‘Tautua I le alofa’ expresses the importance of service that is founded on love. Tautua will only be achieved through consistent development and daily practise. The maintenance of gagana Sāmoa (Sāmoa language) is achieved through such service - through the values of love, respect, and especially in the vā fealoa’i (respectful relationships) that protect Sāmoan people.

On the gagana Sāmoa journey

Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau is proudly on her gagana Sāmoa journey. While making her way to Antigua & Barbuda for a UN panel discussion on the Pacific health crisis on 27–30 May, she spoke about the realities of maintaining gagana Sāmoa.

“I’m on the gagana Sāmoa journey, and it comes down to - practise, practise, practise. Family and friends have been amazing. I’ll always stuff up, so yes, it does take some courage. But it is such a beautiful language.”

Undergraduate student Cyrus Meredith Melhuish, majoring in Politics and Asian studies, is proud of his Sāmoan heritage but acknowledges that living in Aotearoa has brought inherent challenges when it comes to gagana Sāmoa.

"It’s such a beautiful language, and it’s practise really. We use a lot of Sāmoan terms at home every day. Mum uses it a lot when she’s telling me off, especially when I’m supposed to be doing my essay and I’m playing a game."

Perspective is everything

The University’s Sāmoa language lecturer Lemoa Henry Fesuluai has spoken widely about the importance of gagana Sāmoa. Recently, he featured in the media providing analysis and insights on the Sāmoan language, entering the controversial debate around anti-blackness.

He said an individual’s level of gagana Sāmoa will determine how terms and words are translated, as well as taking into account differing worldviews. The whakapapa, or history, behind the Sāmoan word and the English word, can be entirely different. 

From an Indigenous viewpoint, words depend heavily on context and how the vā  – the space between, the betweenness, not empty space, not space that separates but space that relates – is upheld.

"It's about which lens a person is interpreting words from.”

Did you know? 

• Gagana Sāmoa is the third most spoken language in Niu Sila (Aotearoa New Zealand) following te reo Māori and English.  According to the 2018 Census, just over 101,000 people have identified themselves as Sāmoan speakers and are able to hold a conversation in Sāmoan.

• Sāmoan is the second most spoken language in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Porirua. 

• The Leo Moana o Aotearoa Survey Report published by the Ministry of Pacific Peoples two years ago shows that Pacific languages are valued highly by Pacific people. Pacific languages are an important part of New Zealand’s national identity and there was a strong call for official recognition of Pacific languages.