Transcript
Tuvalu is situated midway between Hawaii and Australia.
There are 11,646 people in Tuvalu, according to a 2019 UN estimate.
In 2013, Tuvaluans made up 1.2 percent of the Pasifika population in New Zealand.
As the islanders celebrate their culture and language this week, Saiaisi Pita said her people must use the event to educate their children about the climate crisis threatening their island home.
"By reaching out to Tuvaluans my age and educating them about the climate crisis, and by educating them about this climate crisis, they'll value our culture and our language more. By telling them to get involved in Tuvaluan functions, activities within our communities. That is a really important thing to do."
The Year 12 student said Tuvaluans must teach their young people that the rising sea level will continue to cause the displacement of their people.
A leader in the Auckland Tuvalu community, Fala Haulangi, said the week-long activities helped the islanders connect with their cultural identity through language.
"We kicked off with a writing competition for the primary school kids. Monday was a fashion show and arts. Tuesday was the quiz night. Last night was the youth night. Tonight will be the climate change debate and discussions. And then tomorrow will be the talent quest."
Saiaisi Pita, 17, warned the climate crisis was threatening her language and culture.
Pacific island nations needed to act fast or face going underwater.
"The theme this year is really fitting especially in Tuvalu's current situation of the climate crisis and sea levels rising. And the language and cultures are being threatened too.
"The theme encourages us Tuvaluans to hold on to what we have, which is evidently our culture and our language and persevering and protecting it so that Tuvaluans are promised a future."
The last time she visited Tuvalu was 12 years ago and she warned the climate crisis had forced many young Tuvaluans to abandon plans of visiting their homeland.
"Many young Tuvaluans here in Auckland haven't been to our island. And it's such a shame that the climate crisis is holding us back from returning to our island in the future. But through our language and culture, we're able to in a way still be connected to Tuvalu even though we're here in New Zealand. It's what ties us back to Tuvalu."
Fala Haulangi said they had been pleased with the youth driving the week's events.
"And look at how we can have the conversation out there with Tuvaluans in New Zealand but with the wider community as well. So they can understand the impact of climate change on the lives of Tuvaluans back home."
The language week ends on Saturday in Auckland with a Tutokotafi.
Tuvaluans from the country's eight islands will gather for a Fatele of singing and dancing.
