Samoans in New Zealand are celebrating their culture and identity as part of annual efforts to encourage more people to be bilingual.
Samoan Language Week began yesterday with an evening church service in Auckland organised by FAGASA, a group established 25 years ago to support Samoan language learning in New Zealand.
The Minister of Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio said he hoped this year more people would take part in the Samoan language and cultural celebrations nationwide.
"Alofa atu nei. Alofa mai taeao" is this year's theme meaning kindness given is kindness received, Aupito said.
"(It's) based on the principle of reciprocation where Samoans believe that when you show compassion towards one another that will be responded in like.
"Kindness begets kindness and I think that is a reminder that we are all connected as peoples of New Zealand, peoples of the Pacific region," he said.
