Tongan Language Week, Uike Kātoanga'i 'o e Lea Faka-Tonga, was officially opened on Sunday.

Nineteen students, accompanied by several teachers from Onehunga High School, attended the Tongan Language Week launch on Sunday, joining other schools from across the Auckland region. The event, held at Tuingapapai Church on Favona Road in Māngere, featured inspiring speeches from four Tongan academic leaders and captivating performances from each participating school. Our students represented us with pride.

The 2025 theme for Tongan Language Week is ‘Ko 'etau lea, ko e fe’unu mahu’inga ia ki he mo’ui ‘a e Tonga – Our language is a vital strand of our Tongan culture.’

Although the celebration is only for a short week, our students are determined to honour and showcase the richness of Tongan culture. The week began today with a traditional kava ceremony, an important practice in Tongan life, symbolising respect, unity, and the marking of special occasions.

This morning, Etuini Lalakai (13LU) and Leni Pulupaki (13BW) attended the staff briefing, where they introduced greetings in Tongan: ‘Fēfē hake?’ (How are you?) and ‘Sai pe malo’ (I am good). Staff and students alike are excited to continue learning more of the Tongan language and traditions as the week unfolds.

A highlight every year is the cultural performances, which bring vibrant energy and enthusiastic audiences to the hall during break times. We look forward to these on Tuesday and Thursday this week.