- Hon Aupito William Sio
It's Cook Islands Language week and the Minister of Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio wants the community to focus on what it means to keep the language alive across the generations.
"Our Cook Islands community in Aotearoa have decided to focus on the same theme as last years; ' Ātuitui'ia au ki te Oneone o tōku 'Ui Tupuna,' or in English, 'Connect me to the soils of my ancestors".
"Focusing on this theme for a second year allows us to "iriiri manako" or think hard on it, and deeply examine what this means in terms of the retention of Te Reo Māori Kūki 'Airani language and Pe'u Māori culture ," said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio
"In some ways, it serves as both as a warning; elders with the institutional and historical, and deep understanding of the language and culture are passing away, and that knowledge is being lost.
"At the same time, it provides an opportunity to capture their stories for perpetuity so future generations can benefit and celebrate this indigenous knowledge." Aupito William Sio said.
Classified as vulnerable by UNESCO, only nine per cent of the Cook Islands people speak the language.
With this in mind, and alongside this year's launch, an online hub will be started for young people to engage, interact, promote, share and kōrero about their culture.
Koanga Māpū Youth Digital Hub is a platform for young people to engage and capture the stories of their elders with language and cultural knowledge, which ties in with the 'Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani theme.
"This the fourth Language Week is a way to raise awareness and contribute to the value of Te Reo Māori Kūki 'Airani.
"The Cook Islands Language Week concludes with the Kapa Nui' Festival at Vodafone Centre in Manukau, hosted by Te Maeva Nui Trust and bringing us together to celebrate, Pe'u Māori culture) Te Reo Māori Kūki Airani (language), and everything unique to the Cook Islands," Aupito William Sio said.
Epetoma o te reo Kuki Airani, akamatutu'anga I te kai'anga e te opu'anga korero mei tetai uki ki tetai
Ko te Epetoma teia o te Reo Kuki Airani, e te anoano nei te Minita o te iti Tangata Patipika, koia a Aupito William Sio i te iti tangata, kia akatinamou i to ratou manakonako'anga ki runga i te Reo e tona puapinga kia ora ua atu rai na roto i te au uki tuātau.
I teia mataiti, kua akamou rai ta tatou tumu tapura no teia epetoma, ki runga i te tumu tapura o teia mataiti i topa - Atuitui'ia au ki te oneone o toku Ui Tupuna.
Kua akakite te Minita e, ka riro te aru aka'oa'anga i teia tumu tapura o te mataiti i topa, ei akamanako meitaki'anga na te iti tangata no runga i to ratou turanga Maori Kuki Airani.
Te irinaki katoa nei aia e, kia mārama te iti tangata i teia tuātau e, te takake aere nei te au metua, e ia ratou e takake atu ara, te aru katoa atu ara te au mārama ta'ito kare e mou'ia mai ana e te uki o teia tuātau.
Na roto katoa oki i teia mārama, ka ara mai tatou no te opuopu mai anga i te au tua e te korero mei roto mai i te au metua e ora nei, i mua ake ka takake aere atu ei ratou.
I raro ake i te kimikimi'anga a te Taokotai'anga UNESCO, e 9 patene rai o te tare'anga o te iti tangata Kuki Airani ka kite i te tuatua i te reo Kuki Airani.
No teia turanga oki, e kupe roru uira ta te au mapu i anga mai ei tauturu i te koikoi mai e te akapapa'anga i teia au tua e te korero.
Ko teia Kupe, tei raro ake te reira i te tamaru'anga a te Kopapa koia te Ko'onga Mapu ei atui atu ki te tumu tapura o teia mataiti.
Kia riro teia epetoma i te akamaramarama e te akaaraara i to tatou au manako, no runga i te turanga o to tatou reo i teia tuatau, e te puapinga kia mou mai tatou i te reira.
Kua akakite te Minita Sio e, na te tarere Kapa Nui, e popani i te au angaanga kātoatoa o te epetoma o te reo, ki ko i te Vodafone Centre i Manukau, i raro ake i te Tamaru'anga a te Kopapa Te Maeva Nui Trust.
