UIKE ‘O E LEA FAKATONGA’ TONGAN LANGUAGE WEEK

Malo e lelei Parents/Caregivers and Whanau,

Tongan Language Week is held on 6th – 12th September and we are looking forward to celebrating it as a school. 

There are currently 18 students (3.5%) who are identified as Tongan at Three Kings School. We also have a teacher and staff member ‘Ms Nancy Wolfgramm’ who is of Tongan descent and will be supporting our staff with resources and an understanding of the culture and traditional customs. 

It is important for Pacific communities to maintain and promote heritage languages. There are more than 60,000 Tongan people living in Auckland and more than 80,000 people of Tongan heritage who live in New Zealand.

Why we celebrate Tongan Language Week at Three Kings School!

· To raise awareness of the Tongan language as a language spoken by a number of people in New Zealand

· To involve and encourage our Tongan Parents, children and staff to take part in celebrating Tongan Language Week and events

· To promote initiatives to maintain and grow the recognition, learning and use of the Tongan language in the home, in education, work, government, media, sports, arts, church and in the community.