The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio has congratulated the Cook Islands community throughout Aotearoa for the 9th year of Te ‘Epetoma o Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani, the Cook Islands Language Week.

The theme for the Cook Islands Language Week 2020 is“Kia pūāvai tō tātou Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani i Aotearoa”; which means, “That the Cook Islands Māori language may blossom throughout New Zealand”.

The Cook Islands are a self-governing nation and a member of the New Zealand Realm and comprises 15 islands whose total land area is 240 square kilometres (93 sq. mi) and is home to around 17,459 people (2016 census).

“The Government demonstrated this commitment in Budget 2019 by investing $20 million over four years so that the Ministry for Pacific Peoples can provide funding support to our communities to ensure our Pacific languages thrive throughout Aotearoa. We’ve since invested $3.9 million into the Pasifika Education Centre so that they can provide Pacific language community courses and extend their reach through online platforms. In addition to funding 9 Pacific language weeks, MPP is also funding Pacific community language initiatives so that young people can access a whole new world of Pacific language learning opportunities,” said the Minister.

-Tin Bureau