Noa'ia (Greetings/Hello)!

This year’s Pacific Language Weeks programme starts with Rotuman Language Week (Gasav Ne Fäeag Rotuạm Ta) which was being celebrated across Aotearoa from 11-17 May. 

The theme for Rotuma Language Week is Åf'ạkia ma rak'ạkia 'os fäega ma ag fak Rotuma - tēfakhanisit Gagaja nā se ‘äe ma gou - Treasure and Teach Our Rotuman Language and Culture - A Gift given to you and I by God’.

Mary Mario is a student of Rotuman heritage who recently completed a Master of Applied Social Practice at Unitec. “I love the natural beauty of my island in Rotuma,” she shares. Find out more about Mary：

 

Rudolph Mario is an automotive lecturer at Unitec. “New Zealand is my home, but I am a Rotuman and proud to speak my mother tongue which keeps me connected to my culture,” he says.

Rotuma has been a political dependency of Fiji since 1881. It is made up of a group of volcanic islands located 650 kilometres north-west of Fiji. 

With a small population of around 2,600, the majority of Rotumans live abroad with an estimated 10,000 residing in the mainland Fijian islands and just under 1000 residing in New Zealand (981 according to the 2018 NZ Census). 

While they are part of Fiji, Rotuman people are a separate ethnic group with their own distinct Polynesian language, culture, and identity.

Historically, Rotuma was known as Siria by the indigenous peoples of Tahiti Nui and Rapa Nui, who are said to be its first inhabitants. Siria is a reference to a star directly above the island's location.

Prominent Kiwis of Rotuman heritage include All Black wing Caleb Clarke, writer/poet David Eggleton and singer, producer and filmmaker Ngaire Fuata.