Cousins once removed Carolyn Lagahetau (Oratia's editorial director) and Mele Nemaia (author). Photo: Supplied/ Oratia
Distinguished Niuean educator Mele Fakatali Nemaia is "retired" and back in Niue after decades of service to Niue language and culture in Aotearoa.
With a warm breeze in her hair and a flower in her ear, her face lit up as she recounted various community events celebrating Niue language week over the years.
"Vagahau Niue is in me," Nemaia said.
Something she is really proud of is the Hologa Niue - New Zealand's first Niue cultural festival. The theme for 2025 was "Fakatapunu, Ofania, mo e Fakaaoga e Vagahau Niue!" (Elevate, Cherish, and use Vagahau Niue!).
"My observation was, yes, the Niue people are really wanting to hold on to something that is so precious; our Vagahau, our culture, which is our identity. This is what my book is all about".
Cousin's Ahi Kolose and Mele Nemaia and Niue constitution day 2025. Photo: Supplied/ Mele Nemaia
A Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, the former Vagahau Niue Trust chairperson and a proud champion of Niue language, she feels confident about handing the baton to "the capable" hands of those in charge now.
Back in Niue after more than four decades in New Zealand, she is spending her days selling bread at the market and eating fresh pawpaw from her garden and Uga (coconut crab). She is loving Niue life.
"There is no place like home. Niue is blessed abundantly."
Mele Nemaia with family at Niue constitution day 2025, including her Niece, Niue's youngest MP Rhonda Tiakia Tomailuga. Photo: Supplied/ Mele Nemaia
But almost as soon as the word "retired" fell from her lips, she laughed and said, "oh, but I'm filling in at the local school for three weeks".
On top of that, she has just published a second book.
The previous one was for Niue Language Week 2024 - a collection of stories written through the eyes of Niuean school kids.
This latest book Moana Oceania: Niue, is bilingual, written in both Vagahau Niue and English. She liked the idea when Oratia Books approached her to put together the Niue edition of the Moana Oceania series.
Inside are insights into society, geography, arts, history and sports.
A snippet of what's inside Mele Nemaia's 'Moana Oceania: Niue'. Photo: Supplied/ Oratia
But it is her passion for young people that really shone in her interview with RNZ this language week.
Her message for anyone born outside Niue and struggling with their language and/or identity is to learn the language, get involved in the community and visit Niue.
"You don't have to seek permission to come to Niue. Just come!"
Photo: RNZ/ Lydia Lewis
On top of the books and years of language and cultural events - this year marks three years since the Fakaako e Vagahau Niue language app was launched.
Back in 2022, Nemaia told RNZ Pacific: "Learning how to do an introduction of themselves - Ko hai au... Who am I? - but it's in Vagahau Niue. There [are] also translations for everything that is on that app - the days of the week, months of the year, different colours, the alphabet and there are songs to accompany, or visuals to accompany."
And with Niuean listed by UNESCO as a critically endangered language, three years on she hopes the app, one of the few Vagahau Niue language resources, is being used.
"Our young people are hungry, hungry for their language," Nemaia said.
Photo: RNZ/ Lydia Lewis
