Pacific poets unite to revitalise language through landmark publishing project

Eight emerging Pacific poets are set to share their languages, stories, and identities with the world in a landmark project celebrating Pacific voices and cultural heritage.

The project, called Tala: Sharing Pacific Stories, is part of a wider effort to revitalise Pacific languages and celebrate the creativity of emerging writers.

Over the next year, the first group of selected poets will contribute to The Ocean Remembers, bringing their voices and cultural perspectives to a wider Pacific audience and beyond.

A publishing initiative aiming to uplift Pacific artists and language through literature has announced the eight poets chosen for their first publication. They are Sarah Finau, Henry Taripo, Ziu Freshwater, Henrietta Makatogia, Danika Thompson, Sandra Tisam, Dr Romona Tiatia, and Jonjon Tolovae.

Their selection marks a significant milestone in the journey to amplify Pacific storytelling and ensure Pacific languages and perspectives are preserved and celebrated.

Representing diverse Pacific cultures, identities, and lived experiences, their poems will explore language revitalisation, cultural pride, gender identity, and ancestral knowledge.

The initiative is co-delivered by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples and Creative New Zealand. It marks the first formal agreement between the two organisations and signifies their shared commitment to supporting and sustaining Pacific languages through the arts.

Tala: Sharing Pacific Stories will provide up to $100,000 to support the eight poets’ publication. Each poet was specifically selected for their dedication to languages including Te Gagana Tokelau, Vagahau Niue, Gagana Sāmoa, and Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani.

Secretary for Pacific Peoples, Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone, says in a joint statement that the project shows how government agencies can work together to support Pacific communities and protect what matters most to them.

“Language connects us to our land, our people, and our stories. By investing in Pacific language literature, we’re helping to keep those connections strong and ensuring Pacific peoples can continue to share their stories in the languages of their ancestors.”

For many of the writers involved, the chance to share their work publicly honours both their language and heritage. Writing in their mother tongues allows them to explore personal histories, memories, and identities authentically.

Tisam, a Papua New Guinean-born Cook Islander, sees this as a chance to share her reo with a wider audience.

“It’s a privilege to be able to share our Pacific Stories with Pacific Communities,” Tisam says in a statement.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited about learning about the publishing industry from the seeds of an idea all the way through to a published book.”

According to Tolovae, a Sāmoan queer performing artist, this is an opportunity to recognise the voices of Pacific language speakers while encouraging the revival of those reo.

Tolovae says it’s important to include the perspectives of the Fa’afafine and Fa’atama through Gagana Sāmoa, calling it a “very kaisi” (good/great) opportunity for their community.

Thompson, of the Cook Islands, Tahitian, and Irish descent, believes that Pacific voices carry weight and deserve to be heard.

Gretchen La Roche, the Chief Executive of Creative New Zealand, says the Memorandum of Understanding goes beyond co-investment. It’s a commitment to uplifting Pacific voices while honouring the languages, stories, and creativity of Pacific people.

“This is about supporting Pacific storytellers to share what matters to them, in the languages that carry their culture, identity, and connection to home,” her statement reads. “We’re proud to work alongside the Ministry for Pacific Peoples to help bring these stories to life.”

Tala: Sharing Pacific Stories supports the goals outlined in the Ministry’s Pacific Languages Strategy 2022-2032 and aligns with Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Strategy 2023-2028. Both strategies prioritise efforts to support the revitalisation and intergenerational transmission of Pacific languages.

Following the September application period, Creative New Zealand received 12 eligible applications after hosting two open Zoom sessions for people interested in the programme.

The Ocean Remembers will be released in early 2026 by Mila's Books, with launch events planned across the motu to celebrate the artists and their communities.

For those looking for more opportunities to write, create, or promote their own language initiatives, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ Pacific Languages Community Fund is now open.

Applications will close at 12pm on Friday, 28 November 2025, and funded projects will run from January to October 2026.