6 Apr 2012

Plea to young Tokelauans in New Zealand to embrace heritage

11:42 am on 6 April 2012

New Zealand's Minister of Pacific Island Affairs is urging young Tokelauans in this country to embrace their heritage language and culture.

Hekia Parata's plea comes ahead of the 16th bi-annual Tokelauan International Festival which is being held over the Easter weekend in Porirua, north of Wellington.

Ms Parata says one in four New Zealand-born Tokelauans speak their heritage language and the fesitval is an opportunity to increase that figure.

She says research shows the transformative effect that being strong in language, culture and identity can have on educational achievement and community well-being.