Niuean Language Week

Fakaalofa lahi atu. Niue Language Week runs this year from 13 to 19 October. The theme is 'Leveki mo e fakaaoga e Vagahau Niue – Treasure and use the Niue Language'. Did you know that Niueans represent our fourth-largest Pacific group in New Zealand? So it seems highly appropriate to celebrate the Niuean culture and language during this week.

The language week has been organised largely by the Vagahau Niue Trust and Matakau Pulefakamotu Niue Okalana, with support from the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs. Check out the ministry's Facebook page for more information and the programme to find out what is happening near you.

Enjoy the selection of heritage photos below, which are drawn from the heritage collections at Auckland Libraries, to celebrate Niue Language Week.

Niuean royalty:

Ref: AWNS-19001005-3-3, the King and Queen of Niue with the NZ Premier and Mrs Seddon, Niue, 1900, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19000713-2-2, Tongea, the King of Niue, 1900, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19000713-2-3, Mohabule, Queen of Niue, 1900, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19000713-2-5, the King and Queen of Niue and members of the royal family, Niue, 1900, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Niuean village:

Ref: AWNS-19000824-4-11, a Niuean village, 1900, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Visits by dignitaries to Niue:

Ref: AWNS-19011219-6-3, Colonel Gudgeon addressing a group of Niueans with Rev. Lawes interpreting and Mr S. Percy Smith seated in chair, Niue 1901, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: 1029-ALBUM-198-68-2, the day Mr Edmonds landed at Niue, no date, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: 1029-ALBUM-198-68-4, food prepared to celebrate the arrival of Mr Edmonds at Niue, no date, Sir George Grey Special Collections

The dangers of the coral reef to boats:

Ref: AWNS-19231220-51-1, the wrecked schooner Kaeo on a coral reef, Niue, 1923, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Mission Station:

Ref: AWNS-19011212-7-2, the Mission Station on Niue, 1901, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Honour and dignity - Niueans who served during the First World War:


Ref: AWNS-19161102-46-6, Niuean soldiers being entertained at the Auckland Trained Nurses' Club by Nurse Nobbs, 1916, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Ref: AWNS-19160120-39-2, Niuean and Maori soldiers in the waves at Narrow Neck Beach, North Shore, Auckland, 1916, Sir George Grey Special Collection

Can you help? We are putting together a case study on the Niuean soldiers who served during the First World War. 150 men went off to war as part of the Māori Battalion and we would like to honour their sacrifice by telling their stories. We also want to identify the soldiers in the photographs held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections. You can search for these photos by entering the keywords Niue soldiers into the search box on the Heritage Images database. Get in contact by dropping us an email: OurBoysGuide@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

Find out more about the First World War heritage resources at Auckland Libraries and Auckland Council Archives and browse through our new research guide.

Niuean communities in South Auckland:


Ref: Footprints 03508, Grand old gran celebrates', Mangere, 1991, Courier collection, box 59/8, photograph reproduced by permission of Fairfax Media, South Auckland Research Centre


Ref: Footprints 03587, 'Celebrating Niue', Mangere East, 1993, Courier collection, box 64/6, photograph reproduced by permission of Fairfax Media, South Auckland Research Centre