Rotuman community leaders in Auckland, New Zealand, warned that the Rotuman language could “lose forever” without urgent revival efforts, after schools on Rotuma reportedly replaced Rotuman lessons with Fijian.
Rachel Mario, chair of the Rotuman Community Centre, said the language now relies heavily on diaspora communities, particularly the estimated 8,000 Rotumans living in New Zealand.
She urged families to teach children the language at home to preserve cultural identity.
Rotuman Language Week began on May 9, 2026, following a two-year campaign for official recognition. Planned events include church services, a decolonisation symposium and community cultural activities aimed at encouraging everyday language use.
Rotuma, located about 650 kilometres north of Fiji, is home to a distinct Polynesian ethnic group with its own language and traditions. Linguists classify Rotuman as highly unique within the Oceanic language family because of its rare metathesis system and complex vowel structure.
UNESCO classifies Rotuman as vulnerable or endangered, with estimates of only 10,000 to 12,000 speakers worldwide. Community organisers said diaspora-led teaching initiatives now play a central role in keeping the language alive.
