This week is Samoan Language Week. Each year, we celebrate Samoan language to remind ourselves that it is the third most common language spoken in New Zealand.
Listen to June 3rd 2010 to hear more about Samoan people and their language. The 2013 census shows that there are now 144,000 Samoan people living in New Zealand. Two thirds of these people live in Auckland.
The theme for the 2014 Samoan Language Week is “Hold fast to your treasure”. The Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Peseta Sam Loutu-Iiga, welcomed the start of the Samoan Language week in Wellington. He reminded people that their treasures were not only their language but also their culture, values, food, dance and religion. It was important for families to speak Samoan in the home and to keep their culture.
Questions
What are some of the important cultural values for Samoan people? Are they different from the values of most New Zealanders? Are they different from the values of other cultures?
Is it difficult to hold fast to your treasure when you immigrate to New Zealand?