Government cuts Pacific language funding by over 50 per cent

A review of investments supporting Pacific education priorities has resulted in a major reduction in funding.

Information obtained by PMN News through an Official Information Act (OIA) request reveals that funding for the Ministry of Education’s Pacific Bilingual Language programmes has been cut from $2.6 million in 2023-2024 to $1.2 million in 2024-2025, representing a 54 per cent decrease.

The ministry described these departmental cuts as a small part of its overall investment in Pacific learners and languages.

However, some argue that this decision represents a serious setback for Pacific communities.

Government’s disregard for Pasifika communities

Labour’s Deputy Leader, Carmel Sepuloni, a former teacher, criticised the cuts as a clear sign of the Government's disregard for Pasifika languages and cultures.

“I’m highly disappointed, and it just goes to show that this government doesn’t value, respect, or appreciate our Pasifika community, the importance of our languages and our cultures, and they’ve done this in such a quiet way,” Sepuloni said.

She’s concerned that the Pasifika community has not been fully informed about these cuts, which affect critical resources for Pacific people.

Sepuloni highlighted the significance of evidence-based policy, saying the Government’s actions undermine opportunities for Pasifika children to succeed.

Labour Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni said the Government doesn’t value, respect, or appreciate our Pasifika community. Photo/PMN News

“I know full well that our kids who are confident in who they are and have access to their language are more likely to achieve and thrive in education than those who are denied these opportunities,” she said.

Expert expresses concern over learning outcomes

Leali’ie’e Dr Tufulasi Taleni, Pacific education expert at Canterbury University, echoed these concerns, calling the funding reduction "disheartening”.

“Pacific languages are at the heart of our families and communities. Cutting funding to teach these languages in schools is a major setback,” he said.

Taleni added that even with previous funding, maintaining the teaching and learning of Pacific languages was challenging, and this cut would make it even more difficult.

“The research is very clear: for Pasifika children, it’s about motivation, full engagement in the classroom and learning which comes from that motivation.

“When Pacific children are strong in their identity, language and culture, they feel good about their learning,” he said.

Leali’ie’e Dr Tufulasi Taleni, Pacific education expert at Canterbury University, called the funding reduction "disheartening”. Photo/Canterbury University

Taleni said these cuts contradicted the Ministry of Education’s own past vision for Pacific education, which was outlined in its Pacific Education Plan for 2013-2017.

This plan aimed for “five out of five Pacific learners participating, engaging, and achieving in education while securing their identities, languages, and cultures”.

According to Taleni, these cuts completely undermine that goal.

He cited international research highlighting the importance of cultural capital in education.

“Theorists like (Pierre) Bourdieu argue that students from minority communities bring cultural capital into their education.

“Language is a key part of that. If we take that away, we’re stripping our children of one of their biggest strengths in learning.”

Watch Rowandale School celebrate the opening of its Niue bilingual unit.

What has been cut?

The following programmes have been affected by the funding reductions:

• The Pasifika Early Literacy Project - this initiative provided professional learning and development (PLD) to teachers and leaders of Pacific students in years 1-2 and supported 47 schools and 56 early learning settings in Auckland and Wellington.

• The Pacific Instructional Series - this programme included resources for learners in years 1-3 in bilingual and immersion settings, delivering 40 books in Sāmoan and Tongan to support home reading.

• Pacific Bilingual eBooks - currently under review by the ministry, these were planned for release on Tāhūrangi, an online curriculum hub.

• Pacific Bilingual Mathematics Resources - covering subjects such as algebra, geometry, and statistics in Sāmoan, Tongan, Niuean, Te Reo Māori, Kūki ‘Airani, and Te Gagana Tokelau.

• Bilingual Assessment Tools - these provided reading assessment tools for years 3-8, but the contract ended in November.

• Aoao Working Group - an expert panel that previously provided guidance on quality assurance for Pacific language education, was also disbanded in November.

Watch At the Table, Ep 2 - The Importance of Pacific Language.

Despite these cuts, Pauline Cleaver, the Ministry of Education’s Acting Deputy Secretary, insisted that Pacific language learning remains a priority.

“The ministry continues to invest significant, targeted funding in a range of areas, including resources and support for Pacific learners and professional learning opportunities for teachers of Pacific Bilingual and Immersion settings,” she said.

However, Taleni argued that these cuts negatively impact the educational landscape for Pasifika children.

“The ministry has done some great work in Pacific education over the years,” he said. “But these cuts disrupt continuity. You can’t build momentum and then suddenly stop after one or two years.”

Decline of Pacific languages

Statistics from the 2018 Census show a worrying decline in the number of Pacific language speakers in New Zealand. Despite Pacific people comprising over eight per cent of the population, only 37 per cent can speak their native languages.

Over the past 15 years, there has been a significant decrease in ethnic language speakers, with Tongan among those experiencing major declines. UNESCO has classified some languages, such as Tokelauan, as severely endangered.

Tokelau bilingual class launched at Glenview Primary School in Porirua in March 2023. Photo: Facebook.

Taleni warned that these trends would only worsen if investment in Pacific languages were reduced.

“If the Government doesn’t act now, we risk losing these languages forever. Language is more than just communication, it is identity, culture, and connection.

“If we lose it, we lose a core part of who we are as Pacific people,” he said.

Sepuloni said Labour introduced the first-ever investment in Pasifika cultural events.

“We saw investment in our Pasifika festivals for the first time under our government. There was recognition of the importance of our Pasifika community across different sectors.”

She warned that recent funding cuts could undo years of progress.

“We’ve made so much progress with investment and recognition of Pasifika languages. But when you cut $1.5 million, leaving only $1.2 million for Pasifika bilingual languages, it becomes very difficult to sustain these efforts.”

No consultation with Pacific communities

The Ministry of Education confirmed that no consultation with schools, teachers, or Pacific communities took place before the funding cuts were made.

Despite this, the ministry reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pacific language learning.

“The ministry also continues to fund the Pacific Bilingual and Immersion Education PLD (professional learning and development) initiative, which supports schools that offer Pacific bilingual education,” it said.

“This PLD lifts the capability of the Pacific bilingual workforce so that all students in these settings experience quality curriculum in their Pacific languages.

Photo/RNZ

“Alongside this, the ministry also continues to fund other Pacific-focussed PLD, including Tapasā, Tautai o le Moana and Reo Moana PLD.”

Taleni stressed the need for stronger leadership to protect Pacific languages.

“In Sāmoan, we have a term, taimua, it means to lead from the front,” he said.

“We need strong leaders in education to champion Pacific languages and ensure that our children see their culture reflected in their learning.”

The office of the Minister of Education declined to comment as it was an operational matter. The Ministry for Pacific Peoples also declined to comment, referring inquiries to the Ministry of Education.

Click here for Part 2 of this story.