Young Tokelauans urged to Mind Your Language
Innovative family and community based language learning resources are being made available to young people across New
Zealand interested in learning Gagana Tokelau – the Tokelau Langauge.
The Mind Your Language Tokelau Resources have been developed by the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs in partnership
with the Mind Your Language Tokelau Executive Board, a group of Tokelauan people passionate about supporting the
retention of the language amongst young Tokelauans.
The first phase of the Mind Your Language Tokelau release sees visual aids that will be able to take pride of place in
the home and encourage every day discussions amongst family members in the Tokelau language.
Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Chief Executive, Dr Colin Tukuitonga says Mind Your Language is designed to get more
New Zealand born Pacific people speaking the language of their forebears. “Our communities in New Zealand outnumber
those living in Tokelau, and sadly our young New Zealand born people can’t speak these languages. Mind Your Language
aims to change that.”
Dr Tukuitonga is calling on communities to collectively support language learners. “Mind Your Language helps our
communities to strengthen their sense of cultural identity. We hope every member of the Tokelau community supports the
people who make use of this valuable resource.”
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