Tongan Language Week

Malo e lelei. Tongan Language Week is being celebrated from 1-8 September. The theme this year is Fakakoloa 'o Aotearoa 'aki 'etau Lea mo e Hiva Faka-tonga / Enriching Aotearoa with Tongan Language and Music. As part of the celebrations, there is a vibrant Facebook page.

Auckland Libraries has a number of heritage resources relating to Tonga. This include the following subjects: heritage and identity, the Birth Marriages Death index for Fiji and Tonga from 1858-1873, traditional medical practices, early photography in Tonga and Samoa from 1855-1900, Tongan art, early Tonga as the explorers saw it 1616-1810 and the biography of the King of Tonga.

Also held in the heritage collections are images showing Tonga, so step back in time and take a walk down memory lane ...

Royalty:



Ref: AWNS-19000831-5-6, Mafu Prince of Tonga, 1900, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: 31-66995, Princess of Tonga, 1911, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-18990630-2-3, Princess Ofa of Tonga, 1899, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19000831-5-7, throne room in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, 1900, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Elders:

Ref: AWNS-19000831-5-4, elders at Nuku'alofa, Tonga, 1900, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Royal wedding, 1899:

Ref: AWNS-18990630-2-1, European guests at the wedding of King George Tupou II of Tonga, 1899, Sir George Grey Special Collection

Ref: AWNS-18990630-3-1, bridesmaid at the wedding of King George Tupou II of Tonga, 1899, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Having fun:

Ref: AWNS-19000831-5-5, Children by a stream in Tonga, 1900, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Special occasions:

AWNS-19140723-44-3, garden party in Nuku'alofa Tonga, attended by Hon. Dr Pomare and Tongan elders, 1914, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Natural disasters:

Ref: AWNS-19130227-5-4, hurricane damage, 1913, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19130227-5-3, hurricane damage on the beach at Nuku'alofa, Tonga, 1913, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Wesleyan College:

Ref: AWNS-19000817-8-1, roofing the Wesleyan College on Tonga, 1900, Sir George Grey Special Collections