Tonga Language Week

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Friday 22nd August 2025

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Malo e lelei

Today marked the end of Tonga Language Week. As part of the celebration of our Togan families and their culture, we invited Nana Sue and Sarah, Bonnie’s lovely Nana and Mum, to share about the Tongan language and culture.

We were so thrilled to see Nana Sue dressed in a full Tongan dress, a kiekie, which is their everyday wear, and wee Bonnie looking gorgeous too, dressed in her beautiful formal dress, ta’ovala.

Nana Sue explained that her beautiful fan was made with a special flax-like plant similar to our flax, harakeke, which we use in New Zealand for weaving. The lovely pattern was a tapa cloth design. Coconut husk was used to make a tie around Bonnie’s outfit, which was woven from pandanus fibrous leaves of the hibiscus tree. Nana Sue spoke of the beautiful beaches with crystal clear water and the gorgeous, colourful tropical fish you can swim amongst. With all the cold weather we have been experiencing, we all wished we could visit Tonga with its lovely warm weather.

Sarah told us about the lovely food sometimes cooked in an umu, which is cooked above the ground, compared to our hangi, which is cooked under the ground. Nana Sue talked about the delicious, huge avocados and sweet pineapples, which you can just help yourself to any time for free. It sounds like paradise!!

Nana Sue led us in her favourite Tongan song ‘Baby Bird’, which she sings to her grandchildren and originally shared with us when Bonnie’s elder brothers attended here.

Malo aupito to Nana Sue, Sarah, and lovely Bonnie for a wonderful and informative visit. We so appreciate our gorgeous families and love learning about the many cultures that make our preschool so very special.

Baby Bird Song