Alfred Ngaro
Wellington, May 28, 2017
Ua saunoa le Minisita o le Matagaluega mo Tagata Pasifika i Niu Sila, Alfred Ngaro O le vaiaso o le gagana Samoa, o se avanoa mo Niu Sila atoa e maau ma fiafia faatasi i le felanulanuai o gagana ma aganuu taitasi, aemaise ia mauaa le gagana
Smoan Language week gives all New Zealanders the opportunity to celebrate our diversity and keep the language alive says Minister for Pacific Peoples, Alfred Ngaro.
I would love to see more of our young people, regardless of their ethnicity, leading the way and embracing Gagana Smoa.
Regardless of your heritage theres no doubt that Gagana Smoa and Faa Smoa make a massive contribution to modern New Zealand.
With renewed interest internationally in Pacific cultures, in large part because of the hugely successful Moana film, Vaiaso o le Gagana Smoa presents an opportunity for us to showcase and celebrate Gagana Smoa.
I would encourage everyone to give Gagana Smoa a go this week whether through song, dance, or using words and phrases.
Vaiaso o le Gagana Smoa runs from Sunday May 28 through to Saturday June 3, 2017.
The theme for the week this year is Maau i lou ofaga. Mauaa lou faasinomaga, or in English, keep your identity alive to thrive.
Alfred Ngaro is Pacific Peoples Minister of New Zealand.
