Te Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau - Tokelau Language Week 2020

Photograph by Eni Esekei
Photograph by Eni Esekia.

Tâlofa nî!

Celebrate Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau 2020 – Tokelau Language Week 2020 with Auckland Libraries from 25 -  31 Oketopa (October) 2020.

The 2020 Tokelau Language Week theme is ‘Apoapo tau foe, i nā tāfea i te galutau. Ke mau mai, ke mau mai’ which in English translates to, 'Never give up hope, even amidst chaos and much uncertainty. Stay united, stay strong'.

Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau (Tokelau Language Week) celebrates the culture and language of Faka-Tokelau (The Tokelauan way of life). This week gives us an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful and unique culture, language and people of Tokelau.

Join Auckland Libraries and our Tokelau community in growing our knowledge about the culture, history and language of Tokelau.

Did you know?

  • Tokelau consists of three small coral atolls: Atafu, the most northern atoll has a surface area of 3.5km square; Nukunonu, the central atoll, is 4.7km square; and Fakaofo, the southern atoll, is 4km square. From Atafu in the north to Fakaofo in the south, Tokelau extends for less than 200km and the atolls are just 3-5 metres above sea level.
  • The name Tokelau means the “North Wind”.
  • Tokelau operates a system that has been described as 'coral up' government. In this system, Taupulega (village councils of elders on each atoll) are the ultimate source of authority. The Taupulega direct village activities and in turn delegate their authority on national issues to the General Fono. The General Fono is made up of delegates from each atoll including three Faipule (Village Heads) who rotate the leadership of the country, a position known as the Ulu-o-Tokelau.
  • Tokelau currently has no air transportation, and the only means of transport is by sea from Samoa (the trip usually takes between 24 - 30 hours). All travel and supplies into and out of Tokelau arrive and leave from Samoa, Tokelau's closest neighbour.
  • Tokelauans are culturally and linguistically linked to Samoa. 
  • There are approximately 1,400 people living in Tokelau. 
  • Tokelau is a territory of New Zealand and is 3783km northeast of Auckland and just 483km north of Samoa.
  • Of the 295,941 total Pacific population in the New Zealand Census 2013, 7,173 Pacific people identified themselves as Tokelauan.

Events

Tokelau Village, Pasifika Festival, 2016. Photographer: Adana Dobranis. Find this image on Kura Heritage Collections Online. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections PASF-D-2016-287

Discover and immerse yourself in the rich culture of Tokelau through stories, music and dance at Auckland Libraries. Check your local library's Facebook Page for information on upcoming events near you.

Tokelau titles and resources

Tokelau Village, Pasifika Festival, 2016. Photographer: Adana Dobranis. Find this image on Kura Heritage Collections Online. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections PASF-D-2016-292

Auckland Libraries has an extensive collection of Pacific resources and materials. Check out some of our Tokelau collection in these curated book lists.

Useful phrases and words 

Here are some simple Gagana Tokelau (Tokelau language) words and phrases you might like to try during Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau - Tokelau Language Week. 

Tâlofa nî!    Greetings
E â mai koe?    How are you?
Ko au e mâlohi    I am well
Ko ai tô igoa?    What is your name?
Io     Yes
Heai     No
Tûlou nî! Excuse me
E fia kai koe?    Are you hungry?
Io, ko au e fia kaia lele    Yes, I am hungry
E fia inu koe?    Are you thirsty?
Heai, ko au e he fia inua    No, I am thirsty
Te vevela o te aho    The day is hot
Tôfâ la nî!    Farewell, then.

Pasifika Specialists at Auckland Libraries


We have wonderful Pasifika specialists with diverse interests. Find out more about our Pasifika community librarians, collections specialists and leadership, where they are based and how they can support you on the Auckland Libraries website.

Spotlight on: Amelia 



Talanoa with Amelia, Community Library Manager at Māngere East Library, and find out how she celebrates Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau - Tokelau Language Week on the Auckland Libraries blog. Click here to read more about Amelia.


Tôfâ la nî!

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