Rotuman Language Week 2021

Noa’ia ‘e mauri,

Welcome to Rotuman Language Week held from Sunday 9 May – Saturday 15 May, 2021. 

This year’s theme for Gasav Ne Fäeag Rotuạm Ta - Rotuman Language Week is Tutur häk ne måür lelei – the four pillars of life and wellbeing:

•  Måür Fak'ata (spiritual - a place of solace that gives meaning to life)

•  Måür Fakforo (physical - living life in all its fullness)

•  'Os A'häe (psychological - steers our presence and place in life)

•  Hạikạinagaga (social - our connection with people)

The traditional Rī Fak Rotuam is a Rotuman thatched shelter or house which needs four strong pillars to hold the entire house together, just like the four pillars for our wellbeing. The theme acknowledges and celebrates the strength and resilience of our Pacific communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

To celebrate the beginning of 2021's Pacific Language Week, we would like to acknowledge our Rotuman community in Aotearoa for sharing your beautiful culture and language with us. The Rotuman language is listed on the UNESCO list of endangered languages. Rotuma lies approximately 465 km to the north of Fiji Islands. Rotuma is formerly known as Granville Island, also depicted as the “Garden of the Pacific”, from its rich green fertile land and clear sea. After the Deed of Cession, Rotuma became a British colony and was closed as a port of entry under the Fiji Government in 1970 when Fiji gained its independence. Read more about Rotuma’s culture, history, geography and language in the Educational Resource provided by Ministry for Pacific Peoples website here: https://www.mpp.govt.nz/assets/Language-Weeks-2021/Rotuman/Rotuman-Educational-Resource-2021.pdf 

 

Unitec Library has resources both in print and electronic version to learn more about the island nation, Rotuma. Check out the Unitec Library catalogue and our Pacific subject guide.

 

See our display at Te Puna Library.

 

 Use the hashtag #‎officialnzrotumanlanguageweek to follow the events on social media.

 For more information, visit these websites:

• Auckland Museum 

• Ministry of Pacific Peoples  

• NZ Rotuman Language Week on Facebook

• Atumotu Helava la Kele- The National Anthem of Rotuma – The Coconet.tv 

• Rotuma Day 140th Anniversary Celebrations online event join the members of the New Zealand Rotuman Fellowship in Wellington in this online celebration of culture and koroa (treasures), the Rotuman–New Zealand way. The livestream coverage of the Rotuma Day 140th Anniversary celebrations will commence at 5pm Thursday 13 May (NZST)

Faiakse ‘ea