talanoa

=**Updates**=

** Bilingual **** UPDATE 2011 ** ** Leo Pacific Coalition: **** The Coalition for Pacific Languages in ** ** Aotearoa/NZ ** ** For more information go to |http://bilingualaotearoa.wikispaces.com ** **Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Taloha ni, Ia Orana, Aloha, Bula, Malo e lelei, Mauri Ora, Halo Olgeta…**

**5th August**
= Protest against the state of Pacific Languages Tagata Pasifika TVNZ 4 Aug 2011 Tangata Pacifica.mpg = == =Pacific language protest - Ever since the "pausing" of the Ministry of Education's Samoan Language resource Tupu and Falauga - there's been a rising protest about the state of Pacific Languages and Marama Papau will speak to Coalition Spokesperson, Rachel Panara= =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwLZ4oZ0GjU=

1) **Petition drive at Pasifika Festival Sat 12 March a great success**- Faafetai Feeonaa for organising with Rosanna. John, Judy & mokopunas delivered petitions to Spasifik Magazine stall (Innes Logan); Niue village (fakaaue Fisi Pange and Taonefoou – lots of signatures); Creative New Zealand & Savage Klub (Rosanna Raymond); Pacific Health (malo Maria Lafaele); Best Pacific stall (they will deliver forms to Rachel, can you check?); 531 PI stage (Will Ilolahia – kataki Will can you check our forms). **Interesting:** Fisi reported that most of the Samoans and Tongans she talked to knew about the petition but not many of the Niue people did, but they were all very supportive !

**PETITION DRIVE CONTINUES** –**ACTION:** PLEASE DO ALL YOU CAN IN THE NEXT 3 WEEKS to collect more signatures!

2) **Money begins to flow in** –We cannot fight and win this battle without financial support- **ACTION:** WE MUST find sponsors and donations and everyone could consider an Auto-payment (AP) of a few dollars a week. We need a fighting fund! ** Lawyers Trust Fund for Donations ** ** Bank: ANZ Lambton Quay **  ** Account: 01-0505-0522883-02 **  ** Name: Cutis McLean Ltd Trust A/C **  ** Reference: Chen Palmer- MCC 200/10 **  ** And Your name/ org **  ** Follow up with a receipt request posted to Curtis McLean with your full address for receipt. Include date lodged and amount. Please advise if your organisation requires a e-copy of this agreement. Please note individuals and families as well as organisations can contribute in lump sums or by auto payments- **** a small ** amount weekly

**ACTION:** need names, phone numbers, and email. Send to us asap thanks!
 * 3) We Need your help with Pacific media contacts** – radio, newspapers/magazines, TV.

**4)** **We need your help with press releases and publicity – ACTION:** If you or anyone you know has skills in these areas please get in touch with us asap!

5) Coalition Exec member Feeonaa Wall features in Cook Islands (Avarua) Herald and TV programmes on the campaign and gets support from Cook Is Minister of Education.

//Kia orana John & Judy// //I have just got back from Raro re principals workshop and have southern group// //islands principals signatures with me. There was good publicity in Raro// //regarding Feeonaa Wall's visit to Raro …Will round up some more signatures before sending to you. ..// //Aroa atupaka to the working parties especially john and judy// //Enoa and Cook Islands Principals// (email from Enoa Rae in the Cook Islands 12/3/11) 6) Auckland Trades Council and CTU will vote on a resolution to throw their support behind the campaign shortly. ACTION: **Can you also talk to & email them as well?**

7) Coalition seeks urgent meeting with newly appointed AK Super City Pacific People’s Advisory Committee – **ACTION:** A meeting to be arranged with exec committee. **Can you also talk to & email them as well**?

8) **Ministry of Education AGAIN BLOCKS Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs proposals for Bilingual** **Education as a central strategy in the** **//Pacific Languages Strategy//**. The MoE had this to say- //There is a risk that calls from the Pasifika communities for more attention to Pasifika languages preservation, maintenance and bilingual education will sideline and divert attention and emphasis away from the teaching of English to Pasifika students in all settings// (MoE 2011 Wall OIA material)

This appears to show a lack of knowledge of the widely available relevant bilingualism Bilingual Education research. Pasifika communities know the //best evidence best practice research// says we can have both without the loss of either (MPIA, 2010). **9)** **Ministry of Education admits to PPTA that** **Folauga Journal is cut solely on Financial Grounds**

10) **Minster of Education again delays meeting with Coalition**.

11) **Secretary of Education cancels meeting with PPTA Komiti Pasifika** and sends Lesieli Tongati’o instead…. **ACTION: Can you also talk to & email MoE national and regional community Advisory Committee members? We need to win them over!**

12) **Ministry of Education AGAIN fails to meet deadline to supply Official Information Act** material on why they cut our languages, literacies, bilingual education, bilingualism out of the new the Pasifika Education Plan, 2009-2012. Ombudsman steps in and instructs Education to do so.

11) Coalition exec Galumalemana meets with Minister of Finance and Deputy PM Bill English Wednesday 16 March. **ACTION:** **Can you also talk to your MP & email them and seek to arrange more meetings?**

12) Auckland City Mayor plans an Auckland Education Summit with COMET Manukau on May 11th at Telstra Clear Stadium with PM Key to open – **ACTION:** **Let us know if you have been invited?** It is an opportunity forum to get our goals into the political manifestos. 13) Coalition to play a major role and participation in the July Pasifika Education Fono at Telstra Clear stadium to confirm the fono support for official recognition for Pacific languages.

14) April 4th Joris de Bres keynote speaker at PPTA Auckland Komiti Pasifika Seminar on the Pacific Languages and the Human Rights campaign.

15) Wellington plans major Coalition Pacific Fono similar to the Auckland Nga Tapuwae fono - **ACTION:** **Can you help with contacts in Wellington to invite please ESPECIALLY the TOKELAU community??**

** Our Goal: What we seek from Government and all Political Parties **** : ** **// Recognition of the five main Pacific languages in New Zealand as official minority languages so Pacific children have the right to can grow up speaking reading and writing their own heritage language/s and English from a young age //**. Also note all the **Actions** above which need your help!!
 * ACTION:** Forward to all Coalition networks, members, fanau, colleagues, churches, media, etc.,.

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