Mālō e lelei and warm greetings to you all,

This week we celebrate Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e Lea Faka-Tonga , Tongan Language Week. Our theme is “Our language is a vital strand of our Tongan culture.”

Language is more than just words. It carries our stories, our traditions, and our values. When we speak lea faka-Tonga, we are keeping alive the wisdom of our ancestors and showing respect to the generations who came before us.

As young people, we have a responsibility to carry this strand forward. Even if we are born or raised here in Aotearoa, when we speak Tongan at home, at school, or even just with one another, we strengthen our identity and ensure that our culture does not fade.

I can wear a taovala to show I am Tongan. But if I cannot speak my language many will call me a “plastic tongan” . Our identity is not just what we wear but what we speak, what we understand and what we pass on. Without the language strand our culture is incomplete

There is a Tongan proverb that says:
“Oku ‘i he lea ‘a e koloa ‘a e fonua.”
“In language lies the wealth of a nation.”

This reminds us that when we protect and use our language, we protect the treasures of who we are.

Let us be proud of our mother tongue. Let us continue to weave it into our daily lives, because our language is not just for today , it is a gift for tomorrow.

Mālō ‘aupito, and Happy Tongan Language Week.