Sāmoan Language Week 2019

Fa’atāuaina o le Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa | Sāmoan Language Week 2019 | 26 Mē – 1 Iuni 2019

Tālofa lava! Afio mai!

Gagana Sāmoa is the second most spoken language in Auckland and third most spoken in New Zealand after te reo Māori and English. Sāmoan Language Week is an ideal opportunity to engage with aiga in your community. 

Join us at Auckland Libraries as we celebrate Sāmoan Language Week 2019! With our extensive range of Pasifika books, DVDs, picture books and events - come and experience the joy of Sāmoa at your local library!

This year's theme is Lalaga le si’osi’omaga mo se lumana’i manuia | Weave an environment for a better future.

Books about Sāmoan customs and culture
Tusi e fa’amatala ai tu ma aganuu Fa’a- Sāmoa

Auckland Libraries has a wide range of books on Sāmoan oratory tradition, history, genealogy, poetry and art of tatau available for borrowing and reference. You can also find books on social life, customs and culture!

Ask your local librarian for more information on their Pacific collection and check out some of our booklists below:

• Faalupega ma lauga - Sāmoan oratory
• Popular Pacific nonfiction
• Sāmoan heroes
• Pasifika tatau

Children's books
Tusi mo fanau iti

Treat your tamaiti during storytime with one of our storybooks in Sāmoan, or learn together with a bilingual book on counting, colours and everyday objects. We also have CDs and songbooks available. Take a look at our popular Pacific picture books:

• Popular Pacific kids' books

DVDs and CDs
Ata o fa’afiafiaga eseese

We have a great Sāmoan DVD collection featuring movies and TV shows on culture, music festivals, beauty contests, dance, flag days, history, art and politics. Here are some suggestions:

• The Orator - o le tulafale (DVD)
• Manu e le fati (DVD)
• Loimata latia (DVD)
• Matai: the chief - Part 1 to 8 (DVD)
• Penina O Tiafau - Music of Samoa (CD)
• Taulaga Tagaloa (CD)
• Samoan hits (CD)
• Best of Vili Ieru (CD)

eResources
Fa’amaumauga e uiga i’a Samoa i luga o aupega o fesootaiga

Explore the wealth of Auckland Libraries' heritage collections and read about the rich history of Sāmoa with our online resources.

• Kura Heritage Collection Online
• Heritage et Al blog - Samoa 

Greetings

When greeting people in gagana Sāmoa, talofa is used at any time. The response is Talofa lava or malo lava. Or, you could say talofa or malo. Practice your language skills using the list below:

Talofa lava: Hello (formal)
Talofa: Hello (informal)
Malo: Hello
Tofa soifua: Goodbye (formal)
Tofa: Goodbye (informal)
Fa’amolemole: Please
Fa ‘afetai: Thank you

The Ministry of Pacific Peoples provides a range of materials and resources to help us celebrate Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa including gagana Sāmoa salutations, great learning resources, and a calendar of national events.