The theme "Ribanan, karikirakean ao kateimatoan ara katei ma ara taetae ni Tungaru" highlights the importance of nurturing, enhancing and sustaining the Tungaru language and culture. Tungaru, the name given by their ancestors, plays a significant role in shaping their identity and wellbeing.
The Otago Daily Times speaks to MeraineLafita about what her language means to her.
For Meraine Lafita, her language is the connection to her homeland, her culture and her family.
She is one of only two i-Kiribati (pronounced e-kiri-bas) people living in Central Otago.
"[Kiribati] is heartwarming, that’s how I would summarise it — if you don’t like the cold, go there ... if you like seafood, that’s the place to go, but for me that’s where my home is, my heart and my family.
"That’s where I belong really — my sense of belonging is there, so I go back to reconnect then come back to New Zealand."
Life in Alexandra is vastly different from life in the islands, and she is intentional about connecting her son to his Kiribati heritage, keeping her culture alive through dance.
"For me as the only Kiribati in the house, I’m lucky enough to know my cultural dance, and I dance when I can at home ... I enjoy choreographing Kiribati movements — that’s how I stay connected with my culture."
With limited opportunity to speak her native tongue, Mrs Lafita speaks with both New Zealand-based family and other i-Kiribati friends.
"For me it’s really important. I know because I live isolating myself from my culture but it’s because work is here. I’ve forgot some of the old words, important words.
"I think it’s really important where you can keep up your language, [keep it] alive. It is also part of who you are — language is another path.
"My Kiribati language is important to me because it shows me who I am. I guess without it I don’t know my goals. It’s good for my wellbeing and confidence."
