Niue language advocate and mentor Enatuleni Ikitoa Polima honoured for 'foundational' role

Long-time Niuean community leader and language advocate Enatuleni Ikitoa Polima has been awarded a King’s Service Medal (KSM) in the 2026 New Year Honours.

The award recognises Polima’s decades of service to the Niuean community in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Auckland-based Polima, who hails from Tuapa village in Niue, says the honour was unexpected.

“It was a shock and a surprise to me. I never expected anything as such in my life. I just said it’s a blessing in disguise. I’m so thankful, honestly.”

Polima trained as an early childhood educator and has spent much of her life working in community-based education and Niue language revival.

She supported Niue language nests to gain official licences and has travelled around Aotearoa to help revive and maintain Vagahau Niue.

Listen to the interview with Enatuleni Ikitoa Polima below.

“I love working with the community, even my church. So it’s like part of my life. I was brought up with my parents and ministers, serving three villages back in Niue.”

In 2000, Polima helped establish the Vagahau Niue Trust with other Niuean teachers. She later became a founding member of Kautaha Aoga Niue and her village’s Tuapa Uhomotu Trust.

Over the years, she has supported many faith spaces, cultural festivals, and community commemorations - from Polyfest and Pasifika Festival to Waitangi and ANZAC services.

She also spent more than three decades broadcasting to the Niuean community through Radio Pekapeka on Planet FM, beginning in 1987, using radio as a tool to connect elders and families through language, music, and faith.

In 2016, Polima founded Anapekepeka Senior Citizens West Auckland, creating a space for Niuean elders to socialise and share stories.

Her advocacy has continued in recent years through the Niue Language Writers Group, where she has been actively involved in developing the Niue Bilingual Thesaurus, a major language resource currently in progress.

Polima is also actively involved with the Niue Sports Association and is a long-time supporter of the Niuean Retired Services Association.

Vangahau Niue Trust chair Carissa Posimani McCay says Polima’s contribution to language revitalisation has been foundational.

“She was certainly very instrumental in leading the spaces for Auckland. She was a mentor for the Niue Youth Network. She was an organiser of activities for especially the western side of Auckland.”

McCay describes Mrs Polima as a leader whose energy has sustained generations.

“She’s a people builder. She builds people up. She’s a very good leader. I really value her leadership.”

McCay says Polima’s work has often gone unrecognised, despite decades of service.

Enatuleni Ikitoa Polima, seated far right, with the Niue Advisory Council Trust Aho Pulefakamotu. Photo/Facebook.

“She’s a servant of our Niue community. She has served our people for generations and generations in that language space. She’s always been a strong supporter of anything to do with Niue.”

For Polima, the honour is less about personal recognition and more about faith and service.

“I thank the Lord for this, for working in mysterious ways. My life is just busy, like, giving and enjoying it with people.”

For more details about the other Pacific recipients, click here.