Tongan Language Week at Mount Hutt College
Among the 600+ students at Mount Hutt College, our small but proud group of Tongan students continues
to embrace and celebrate the importance, vibrancy, and richness of our culture.
This week, the Cultural Committee had the opportunity to share and celebrate Tongan Language Week with
our wider school community. Throughout the week, we encouraged students to learn everyday Tongan
phrases, explore our traditions, and gain a deeper appreciation for our heritage and culture.
As part of the celebrations, students within our committee created a video to advocate for this year’s
theme, “Ko e fe’unu mahu’inga ia ki he mo’ui ‘a e Tonga” – “Our music is a vital strand of our Tongan
culture.” Through music, dance, language, and tradition, we were able to showcase the unique and
meaningful aspects of Tongan culture.
To finish off Tongan Language Week, a group of Tongan students came together on Friday to perform a
traditional Tau’olunga (dance), providing a special opportunity to share our culture with the school. It was a
proud moment for our students and a meaningful way to celebrate not only our culture, but the importance
of maintaining and sharing our Tongan identity within our school community, and we hope to continue
embracing Tongan culture for many years to come.
By Eli Ahotaeiloa, Year 13
