Samoans in New Zealand are celebrating their culture and identity in annual efforts to encourage more people to be bilingual and to speak Samoan language on a daily basis.
The week began on Sunday with an evening church service organised by FAGASA, a group established 25 years ago to support the use of Samoan language learning in New Zealand.
The Sāmoan ethnic group is the largest of Pacific populations in NZ with 48.7 percent or 144,138 people are of Samoan heritage, according to the Ministry of Pacific Peoples.
As of 2013 there were 86,403 Samoan speakers.
The Minister of Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio told Sara Vui-Talitu the importance of Samoan Language week.
The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio. Photo: RNZ/Daniela Maoate-Cox
Aupito William Sio says there will be events across the country during the week celebrating the Samoan language.
