01 June 2019

SouthSeas Healthcare celebrated Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa (Samoa Language Week) to recognise Samoan staff serving in the organisation and further strengthen the language and culture in the workplace.

Language Week celebrations are important to SouthSeas Healthcare culture, as a way to recognise and acknowledge the diversity of staff and the many languages and cultures existing within the organisation.

The week’s celebration encourages staff to use the Samoan language in their interactions with clients, families and communities.

Samoan staff led a sing-along, sharing of popular terms and phrases with non-Samoan staff, including a taste of Samoan food.

The 2013 census showed there were 86,000 Samoan speakers in New Zealand at the time, making it the second most spoken language in Auckland and third most spoken in New Zealand after English and Māori.

The theme of this year's Samoa Language Week is ‘Lalaga le si’osi’omaga mo se lumana’i manuia’ - ‘Weave an environment for a better future’

Samoa Language week marks the beginning of a series of celebration of Pacific languages in New Zealand, acknowledging the connection of Pacific people in New Zealand to their heritage languages and cultures.

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