Pacific Peoples and their language

How to correctly name the language and people of the main Pacific ethnic groups in New Zealand.

Languages of Pacific Peoples in New Zealand

Each of the main Pacific ethnic groups in New Zealand has their own language. These languages are part of their identity and culture.

With more than 60% of the Pacific population born in New Zealand, it’s important that we recognise and support these languages in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Government content for and about Pacific Peoples needs to be:

  • respectful
  • culturally appropriate
  • accessible
  • inclusive of everyone.

Pasifika New Zealand — Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Inclusive language — making content accessible and inclusive

Name the Pacific languages

Correctly naming the Pacific languages is a way we can be respectful and inclusive.

Table 1: The main Pacific languages of NZ
Language name English name ISO code
Te reo Māori Kūki ‘Airani Cook Islands Māori rar
Vosa vakaViti Fijian fj
Te taetae ni Kiribati the Kiribati language gil
Vagahau Niue the Niue language niu
Papua Niugini Tok Pisin (Papua New Guinea) Tok Pisin tpi
Fäeag Rotuạm ta Rotuman rtm
Gagana Sāmoa Samoan sm
Solomon Aelan Pijin Solomon Islands Pijin pis
Te gagana Tokelau the Tokelau language tk
Lea faka-Tonga Tongan to
Te ‘gana Tuvalu the Tuvalu language tvl
Vanuatu Bislama (Vanuatu) Bislama bi

Avoid using the English name or write them both — always write the Pacific name first. For example:

  • Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani (Cook Islands Māori)
  • Vosa Vakaviti (Fijian).

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) language codes 

ISO publishes codes for identifying languages across different countries, industries, and technologies. These can be used to help browsers and text-to-speech software pronounce them correctly.

Language of content — Web Accessibility Guide

ISO Country codes — iso.org

Refer to individuals and groups

When you refer to someone from one of the main Pacific ethnic groups in New Zealand, use the following terms:

Table 2: The main Pacific Peoples of NZ
People name English name
Tangata Kūki ‘Airani Cook Islander
Kai Viti Fijian
I-Kiribati Kiribati or person of Kiribati descent
Tagata Niue Niuean
Kạinag Rotuạm ta Rotuman
Tagata Sāmoa Samoan
Tagata Tokelau Tokelau people or people from Tokelau — do not use Tokelauan
Kakai Tonga Tongan
Tagata Tuvalu Tuvalu people or people from Tuvalu — do not use Tuvaluan

For groups, Pacific Peoples is the appropriate term. Avoid using Pacific Islanders or Pasifika (including all spellings — Pasifika, Pasefika and Pacifika).

Resources

Learn more about Pacific Peoples, their language, perspective and culture from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.

Utility links and page information

Was this page helpful?
Thanks, do you want to tell us more?

Do not enter personal information. All fields are optional.

Last updated