NZ born Niuean creative Leki Jackson Bourke has been on a journey of self discovery embracing his culture and helping others to reclaim their Niuean identity and language. 

Niueans regard their language (Vagahau Niue) as the essence of their identity. When Niue was ruled by New Zealand, their children were obligated to speak English and were punished if caught speaking Niuean. 

This has had long lasting detrimental effects on the Niuean language and culture, a situation further exacerbated by the outflow of people from the homeland to places like Aotearoa. 

In 2006, only 25% of the Niue population in New Zealand were able to hold an everyday conversation in Vagahau Niue. For NZ-born Niueans, this rate was only 11%. Vagahau Niue is now considered a language at risk of being lost. These statistics are stark but Leki believes there is still hope.

 

 

NZ born Niuean creative Leki Jackson Bourke has been on a journey of self discovery embracing his culture and helping others to reclaim their Niuean identity and language.&nbsp;
Niueans regard their language (Vagahau Niue) as the essence of their identity. When Niue was ruled by New Zealand, their children were obligated to speak English and were punished if caught speaking Niuean.&nbsp;
This has had long lasting detrimental effects on the Niuean language and culture, a situation further exacerbated by the outflow of people from the homeland to places like Aotearoa.&nbsp;
In 2006, only 25% of the Niue population in New Zealand were able to hold an everyday conversation in Vagahau Niue.&nbsp;For NZ-born Niueans, this rate was only 11%. Vagahau Niue is now considered a language at risk of being lost. These statistics are stark but Leki believes there is still hope.
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