Pacific Language Weeks are a nationwide celebration of the languages of our Pacific communities: twelve weeks spread across the year, led by communities and supported by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Here in the Bay of Plenty, Pasifika in the Bay Trust works alongside schools, families and community groups to celebrate and strengthen our languages all year round.
Coming up in 2026
- Fijian Language Week – Sunday 4 to Saturday 10 October (Macawa ni Vosa VakaViti)
- Niue Language Week – Sunday 18 to Saturday 24 October (Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue)
- Tokelau Language Week – Sunday 25 to Saturday 31 October (Te Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau)
- Solomon Islands Pidgin Language Week – Sunday 22 to Saturday 28 November
This page was last updated in October 2026.
Pacific Language Weeks 2026 calendar
| Language Week | 2026 dates |
|---|---|
| Rotuma Language Week | Sunday 10 to Saturday 16 May |
| Samoa Language Week | Sunday 31 May to Saturday 6 June |
| Kiribati Language Week | Sunday 5 to Saturday 11 July |
| Vanuatu Bislama Language Week | Sunday 26 July to Saturday 1 August |
| Cook Islands Māori Language Week | Sunday 2 to Saturday 8 August |
| Tonga Language Week | Sunday 16 to Saturday 22 August |
| Papua New Guinea Pidgin Language Week | Sunday 6 to Saturday 12 September |
| Tuvalu Language Week | Sunday 27 September to Saturday 3 October |
| Fijian Language Week | Sunday 4 to Saturday 10 October |
| Niue Language Week | Sunday 18 to Saturday 24 October |
| Tokelau Language Week | Sunday 25 to Saturday 31 October |
| Solomon Islands Pidgin Language Week | Sunday 22 to Saturday 28 November |
Dates as published by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Free posters, social media assets and learning resources for each language week are available on the Ministry’s Pacific Language Weeks page.
How we celebrate
Our Pasifika Speech and Languages Competition gives students from across the Bay of Plenty a stage for our languages every year, and our annual Pasifika Festival in the Bay brings thousands of whānau together to celebrate Pacific identities, languages and cultures. This year’s festival is on Saturday 31 October 2026 at Tauranga Girls’ College: see Pasifika Festival in the Bay 2026 for details.
Know of a language week event in the Bay of Plenty? Get in touch and we will help spread the word.
