A heritage celebration of Samoan Language Week

Ref: AWNS19120725-15-1, a river scene in the island of Savaii, 1912, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Talofa lava, Samoan Language Week is being celebrated each year to acknowledge Samoan Independence Day. It is a time to recognise, support and help maintain the Samoan language and its use in New Zealand.

 

Ref: AWNS-18980909-2-1, Apia, 1898, Sir George Grey Special Collections

To celebrate Samoan Language Week, we are taking a step back in time and looking at Samoa from the late 19th century and early 20th century through images drawn from the Auckland Libraries heritage collections.

Landscape scenes from the beautiful country of Samoa.

Ref: AWNS-18990616-2-1, the waterfall at Papasea, known as the Sliding Rock,  Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19060118-15-5, the Crater Lake, Upolu, 1906, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19250528-54-1, Robert Louis Stevenson's house, Mt Vaea, 1925, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Everyday scenes and events including school children, the first Samoan football club, a canoe race and a rubber estate.

Ref: AWNS-18981223-3-4, a group of children outside their school in Samoa, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19050824, the first Samoan football team, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19100331, canoe race at Apia, Samoa, 1910, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19130116-15-5, tappers at a Samoan rubber estate, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Religion is an important part of daily life. A whole range of different religions are present in Samoa, including the Catholic Church.

Ref: AWNS-19050817-12-2, the new Catholic Church at Apia, 1905, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19050817-12-1, interior of the new Catholic Church at Apia, 1905, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Events from the Second Samoan Civil war,1899 - As result of Malietoa Laupepa's death, Mata'afa Iosefo returned from exile and was elected to power by a council of Samoan chiefs and received German backing. In response, the British Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy landed forces at Apia in support of Prince Tanu Malietoa.

Ref: AWNS-18981014-1-1, showing a reception by Samoan chiefs on Mataafa Iosefo's return from exile, 1898, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-18990120-4-2, Full length portrait of Mata'afa Isoefo, a famous Samoan chief, Heritage Images

Ref: AWNS-18990127-1-1, Tanu Malietoa, King of Samoa, 1899, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-18990407-4-1, showing a group of British and American troops in Apia, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Samoa during the First World War - At the outbreak of war, Samoa was of some strategic importance to Germany. After agreeing to seize the territory, the Samoa Advance Party of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force landed at Apia on 29 August. The troops easily overpowered the few and under armed troops stationed there.

Ref: AWNS-19141213-40-1, NZ troops landing at Apia, Sir George Grey Special Collections