Samoan Language Week in NZ

Anita Purcell-Sjolund lives in Falun, Sweden, a town of 52,000 people. She's lived there for more than 10 years with her Swedish husband, Peter, and is the only Samoan in town.

Ms Purcell-Sjolund lectures at the local university, and is also working on her PHD in London, where she travels every few weeks.

"I'm really lucky my husband is keen to learn about my Samoan culture," she said. "I try to cook variations of Samoan food; sapa suey, pani popo, but I really miss taro."

NZ Herald repots sixty per cent of Samoans in New Zealand speak Gagana Samoa and it is the third most commonly spoken language here.

"I would like to see that number grow and Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa: Samoan Language Week is a time to focus on how we can make that happen," Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga said.

"The challenge for all of us during this language week is to find opportunities to use Gagana Samoa more in our community, churches and workplaces. We also need to keep using the language for the rest of the year," he said.