Fijian Language Week is being celebrated under the theme Vakamareqeta na Vosa Vakaviti - Nurture and sustain the Fijian language, emphasising the need to preserve the Fijian language.

An archipelago of over 300 islands, Fiji is home to around 900,000 people, though only 100 of its islands are inhabited.

In Aotearoa (New Zealand), nearly 20,000 Fijians reside, with most living in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Despite their numbers, only 11 percent of Fijians born in New Zealand can speak their heritage language, highlighting the importance of revitalisation.

Dr Patricia Loga, a lecturer at the University of Auckland's Business School, is passionate about preserving her native language.

Born in Suva, she has familial connections to Tubou village on Lakeba Island and Yaroi village on Matuku Island, both in Fiji's Lau Province.

"Although my parents are both from Lau, they speak different dialects, so my siblings and I often find ourselves mixing up the two dialects when we speak it," she said.

Ms Loga's father played a key role in helping her retain her language despite the prevalence of English in Fiji.

"Growing up, one of my father's rules was to speak our native language at home and only speak English at work or in school," she said.

This practice was essential in helping her and her siblings maintain fluency in Fijian.

In addition to her father's efforts, her mother encouraged participation in the Fijian community, particularly in their local LDS church, where they attended the Fijian ward.

This involvement helped Loga strengthen her formal spoken and written Fijian, reinforcing her connection to her cultural roots.

For the Fijian diaspora in New Zealand, language preservation has become increasingly important as fewer young people retain the ability to speak Fijian.

With only a small percentage of New Zealand-born Fijians able to speak their native language, revitalisation efforts are critical to ensuring the next generation maintains this cultural link.

The theme of Fijian Language Week encourages Fijians to nurture and sustain their language, with people like Dr Loga leading by example, helping keep their heritage alive in a rapidly changing world.