- Hon Aupito William Sio
The enduring strength and sustainability of Vosa Vakaviti is being celebrated by the Fijian community in Aotearoa New Zealand during Macawa ni Vosa Vakaviti – Fijian Language Week, which gets underway today.
“This year’s theme, ‘Me vakabulabulataki, vakamareqeti, ka vakaqaqacotaki na vosa Vakaviti’, which translates as ‘Nurture, Preserve and Sustain the Fijian language’, is particularly relevant as Fiji and the wider Pacific region navigate their recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and the ever-increasing impacts of climate change,” Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio said.
“The Fiji language, culture and identity is more important now in Aotearoa – as well as at home in Fiji – than ever before.
“As it faces a road to recovery, the Fijian people can always rely on their language, traditions and values to sustain them.”
This year’s theme is linked to the 2022 Pacific Language Weeks overarching topic of sustainability and the launch of the UNESCO Decade of Indigenous languages; as well as the Government’s Pacific Languages Strategy which was launched last month.
Minister Sio said the Fijian community in Aotearoa New Zealand should be applauded for their tireless efforts in advocating for and strengthening Vosa Vakaviti.
“Fijians in New Zealand see it as their role to be united in nurturing their language as it can strengthen pathways and resources for learning Vosa Vakaviti, and creating environments where Vosa Vakaviti is used more often, and in more spaces.
“Despite the many influences Fiji has had over past centuries, including from Tonga, Britain, and India, Vosa Vakaviti and the iTaukei Fijian culture has remained steadfast.
“It is up to us, to sustain these pathways which helps generations of people to shape their identity,” Aupito William Sio said.
“We can make this happen by using Vosa Vakaviti in our everyday circumstances and Fijian Language Week is the perfect place to start. I encourage everyone to take part in this week’s online and in-person events, such as getting in behind the Fijiana Team who will make their Rugby World Cup debut on Saturday. Vinaka vaka levu.”
Editors Note:
Fijian Language Week runs from October 2-8. Visit the for more information and resources.
Fiji Independence Day (October 10) will also be acknowledged by the Fijian diaspora in New Zealand during Fijian Language Week.
Tokoni ni Vosa Vakaviti vei ira na itabatamata ni Viti
Era marautaka tiko na itikotiko raraba ni Viti e Aotearoa Niu Siladi na vakabulabulataki kei na veivakacokotaki me tomani tiko na Vosa Vakaviti e Aotearoa Niu Siladi ena Macawa ni Vosa Vakaviti – Macawa ni Vosa Vakaviti, ka sa tekivu tiko nikua.
“Na ulutaga ni yabaki oqo, ‘Me vakabulabulataki, vakamareqeti, ka vakaqaqacotaki na vosa Vakaviti’, ka vakadewataka na ‘Nurture, Preserve and Sustain ni vosa vaka-Viti’, e veiganiti vinaka sara me vaka ni ra sota kaya o Viti kei na wase Pasifika na nodra vueti mai na bikai ni mate dewa na Covid-19 kei na kena sa toso cake tikoga na kena revurevu na veiveisau ni draki,” e kaya na Minisita e veiqaravi vei ira na Kawa i Pasifika o Aupito William Sio.
“Sa ka bibi cake ena gauna oqo e Aotearoa na vosa, itovo kei na ivakatakilakila- ka vakakina mai Viti – vakatalega kina ena gauna e liu.
“Ni ra sa sotava tiko e dua na gaunisala ki na bula ni veivakacokotaki, sa rawa vei ira na kai Viti mera dau vakararavi ga ki na nodra ivosavosa, itovo kei na veika talei mera tokoni kina.”
Na iulutaga ni yabaki oqo e semati ki na iulutaga ni Macawa ni Vosa vaka-Pasifika ena yabaki 2022, ka macawa ni kena tomani tiko kei na tavoci na UNESCO Decade of Indigenous languages; ka vakakina na iWalewale ni Vosa ni Matanitu ena Pasifika ka a tavoci ena vula sa oti.
E kaya o Minisita Sio na itikotiko ni Viti mai Aotearoa Niu Siladi me ra vakacaucautaka na nodra sasaga gugumatua ena kena tokona ka vaqaqacotaki na Vosa Vakaviti.
“Era raica na Viti e Niu Siladi ni sa nodra itavi me ra duavata ena kena susugi cake na nodra vosa ni rawa ni vaqaqacotaka na salatu kei na ivurevure ni vuli vosa Vakaviti, ka tauyavutaki na veivanua e dau vakayagataki vakalevu cake kina na Vosa Vakaviti, kei na vuqa tale na vanua.
“E dina ga ni vuqa na veivakayarayarataki a yaco vei Viti ena vica na senitiuri sa oti, oka kina mai Toga, Peritania, kei Idia, sa tudei tu ga na vosa Vakaviti kei na ivakarau vaka-iTaukei vaka-Viti.
“Sa noda itavi, me da tokona na salatu oqo ka vukei ira na itabatamata ni tamata me ra bulia na kedra ivakatakilakila,” e kaya o Aupito William Sio.
“E rawa ni da cakava oqo ena noda vakayagataka na Vosa Vakaviti ena noda bula ni veisiga kei na Macawa ni Vosa Vaka-Viti ka vanua vinaka sara meda tekivu kina. Au vakayaloqaqataki kemuni kece mo ni vakaitavi ena soqo ni macawa oqo ena initaneti kei na soqo vakatamata, me vaka na noda tokona na Timi ni Fijiana ka ra na veiqaravi ena itekitekivu ni qito ni Bilo ni Vuravura ni Rakavi ena Vakarauwai. Vinaka vakalevu.”
Editors Note:
Taurivaki na Macawa ni Vosa Vaka-Viti mai na ika 2-8 ni Okotova. Sikova na mataveilawa ni MPP me baleta na ikuri ni ivakamacala kei na ikuri ni tukutuku.
Na Siga ni Tu Vakataki Koya e Viti (10 ni Okotova) ena vakaraitaki talega mai vei ira na kai Viti e Niu Siladi ena loma ni Macawa ni Vosa Vaka-Viti
