Story: Tongans

As the number of New Zealand-born Tongans increases, many Tongans fear that their language and therefore their identity will disappear. In response, programmes have been set up to encourage the use of Tongan in schools. Here, Tongan teacher aide ‘Ikilifi Pope helps eight-year-old Netanili ‘Iongi with his work at Ōtara’s Sir Edmund Hillary Junior School.