It is estimated that there are 39,000 Niueans in Aotearoa and less than 2000 living on Niue. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
A Niue language expert says despite more Niueans living in New Zealand than in Niue, the youth are eager to learn about their culture.
It is estimated that there are 39,000 Niueans in Aotearoa and less than 2000 living on Niue.
Speaking to Pacific Waves, Leitualaalemalietoa Lynn Pavihi said it is her mission to carry on passing the language on to her community.
Pavihi, born and raised in Niue migrated to New Zealand when she was 16 years old and attended Whanganui Girls College. She said being away from her family and living in an area where there were few Niueans was a "huge culture shock."
However, it was through writing letters to her grandparents back in Niue that kept Pavihi connected to her language.
"They were writing letters to me in Vagahau Niue because we didn't have a cell phone, I didn't have a cell phone at the time, this was back in the '90s," she said.
UNESCO has listed Vagahau Niue as an endangered language.
Pavihi said the Niue language is similar to lea faka-Tonga and Te Reo Maori with similar pronunciations and vowels.
"Our Vagahau Niue is a very beautiful language... and you know, our young people are trying to reconnect with their language, they are hungry to learn Vagahau Niue."
Although Niue youth have expressed interest in learning their language, Pavihi said there are barriers such a lack of resources.
"When I say lack of resources, this includes human resources. We lack the 'faiaoga' - the teachers in the schools to be teaching Vagahau Niue. At the moment, we only have two schools, the secondary schools, that's De La Salle and Alfriston College that teaches Vagahau Niue."
Pavihi also said learning Vagahau Niue requires support and patience.
"We have our young people who are eager to learn, they're learning through singing, through songs, through dancing, drama, performing arts, and of course they will get it wrong.
Pavihi said she understands why Niue youth can be discouraged from staying connected to their culture.
"One of the issues is it's our own people - you know, like they'll mispronounce a word or mispronounce a phrase and then they get shut down. So what happens of course, our young people who are trying to learn the language, they will get put off and they will divert back to the default language, which Vagahau Palagi [English]."
With a passion and heart for Niue, Pavihi said she will continue to champion the survival of Vagahau Niue.
"Many of our tupuna, our knowledge holders, our cultural experts are passing on, and when they pass on, there goes the language, there goes the culture, there goes all the gifts and talents.
"So if I don't put my hand up to be an advocate, who's there to help?".
