Talofa koutou! This week, we are joining the rest of Aotearoa in observing Tuvalu Language Week, as part of this year’s Pacific Language Week celebrations, from 28 September – 4 October 2025.
The Pacific Centre will be running a Fafetu Making (Wall Hanging) Workshop this Thursday, 2 October at the Koru Pod (opposite the AskMe Desk in Te Puna) from 11:30am-1:30pm.
Fafetu are star-shaped ornaments or wall hangings that are intricately handwoven by Tuvaluan artists.
The making of these vibrant, kaleidoscopic artworks involves using a mix of materials, including wool, cloth ribbon, and plastic cargo ties, and they serve as important cultural symbols, representing heritage, homeland, and often acting as special gifts.
“We encourage all Unitec kaimahi and ākonga to join us on Thursday for this creative activity,” says Academic Development Lecturer – Pacific, Ioane Aleke Fa’avae.
“Admission is free and there’s something for everyone to joy.”
The 2025 theme for Tuvalu Language Week is ‘Faipati mo te mautinoa kae amanaia tou fakavae – Speak confidently and respect your foundation’.
This year’s theme urges speakers to share their language with confidence.
Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu (Tuvalu Language Week) is a chance to learn about te ‘Gana Tuvalu and celebrate with the Tuvalu community in Aotearoa.
According to the Stats NZ 2023 Census, 6,585 people identified as Tuvaluan in New Zealand, a significant increase from previous censuses. This community is young, with an average age of 21.5, and predominantly located in Auckland.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT TUVALU
Tuvalu is composed of three reef islands and six atolls located north west of Samoa in the Pacific Ocean. Tuvalu’s total land area is only 25.14 square kilometres.
Tuvalu has a population of 10,643, according to their last census in 2022. That makes the island nation the second-least populous country in the world, behind Vatican City.
The island of Funafuti is the capital of Tuvalu.
The Tuvalu language is closely related to other Polynesian languages like Samoan and Tokelauan, but also has borrowed heavily from Samoan due to historical missionary influence. Tuvaluan has two main dialects, spoken in the northern and southern parts of the islands.
Tuvalu was formerly known as the Ellice Islands, a name given by English hydrographer Alexander George Findlay.
In the late 19th century, Great Britain claimed control over the Ellice Islands, designating them as within their sphere of influence.
From 1916 to 1975, they were managed as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony.
A referendum was held in 1974 to determine whether the Gilbert Islands and Ellice Islands should each have their own administration. As a result, on 1 January 1976, the old administration was officially separated, and two separate British colonies, Kiribati and Tuvalu, were formed.
On 1 October 1978, Tuvalu became fully independent as a sovereign state within the Commonwealth, and is a constitutional monarchy with Charles III as King of Tuvalu.
On 5 September 2000, Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations.
The islands do not have a significant amount of soil, so the country relies heavily on imports and fishing for food. The nation also derives income from its “.tv” internet domain.
Because it is a low-lying island nation, Tuvalu is extremely vulnerable to sea level rise due to climate change. It is active in international climate negotiations as part of the Alliance of Small Island States.
At its highest, Tuvalu is only 4.6 metres (15 ft) above sea level. It is estimated that a sea level rise of 20–40 centimetres (7.9–15.7 inches) in the next 100 years could make Tuvalu uninhabitable.
