Hologa Niue means descendants of Niue which is the name of the inaugural cultural festival held in Auckland recently.
Led by Three Star Nation (TSN) a Niue youth community group, the festival was a chance for Tagata Niue from all over Auckland to represent their 13 villages on stage.
“It’s never been done before, it’s the first in history,” says TSN chairperson Meleua Ikiua.
“We have nothing to lose but everything to gain and as you can hear, see here today our people want this, our people are excited.”
Each group had six weeks to prepare three cultural items, and Mutalau village leader Ioane Aleke Fa’avae has enjoyed working together with his community.
“It brought the whole community together both young right up to the most senior one in our group was 96 so there you go the energy is there today.”
Emily Tasmania is excited to perform with her Tuapa village to help encourage other Niueans to uphold their traditions.
“We’ve been waiting for something like this and it’s just a blessing that we are able to carry on our culture and just keep it alive for our, the younger generation that are coming up.”
Derek Tanevesi Vini joined the Tuapa group to discover his lineage.
“Growing up in New Zealand and being part of the diaspora I feel automatically closer to my Māori side but having this Hologa Niue has been, I think, not just for me but for many of the New Zealand born Niueans to reconnect to their villages,” Vini says.
Jenna Jacobsen Toeono with Alofi village
Vagahau Niue is among four Pacific languages listed as endangered by UNESCO. More than 30,000 Niue people live in Aotearoa, compared to the 1700 in the homeland. This has become a real threat to Niue’s cultural and linguistic survival.
One of the biggest groups in the festival is Alofi village – the capital of Niue. With more than 200 performers, the experience has helped Toa Vaetoru’s to use his mother tongue.
“I was able to speak Niuean fluently as a kid but over time I’ve lost the ability. I can only understand when people speak Niuean, I’m slowly regaining my Vagahau Niue.”
Alofi leader Jenna Jacobsen Toeono says the collaboration between the elders and young people will continue to strengthen their cultural knowledge.
“To have that multi-generational learning between our matua and also our young ones and it’s just beautiful to revive some of our songs, and our hiapo (tapa cloth), which is another art form of our Niue culture which needs a lot more exposure.”
It’s that exposure taking centre stage, with future plans for Hologa to be held every two years.
“When they say Vagahau Niue is dying, this is our fight to try and save it.” Meleua Ikiua says.
Meleua Ikiua – Three Star Nation, Chairperson
