Transcript
In Tokelau, a group of three remote atolls with a population of around 1,500 people, news doesn't have far to travel, but there hasn't been much to spread it.
That all changed this year, with the introduction of two newspapers, one in Nukunonu atoll and another in Atafu atoll.
Kelihiano Kalolo, the Faipule, or leader, of Atafu, gave his atoll's newspaper its name - Te Moamoa, a type of fish found in the Pacific.
He says it's a way of preserving history and improving communication between residents and the village councils, or Taupulega, which fund the newspapers.
"The decisions made by the Taupulega are very, very important and people should read those. We don't have broadcasting network and we don't have newspapers and that's why we think this is a good idea."
Government decision-making in Tokelau has recently been in the spotlight, as its leaders scramble to reassure Tokelauans over concerns they were overstepping their boundaries.
It's part of a greater search for maopopo, or unity, in Tokelau, and one that fits with the theme of this year's language week: E kukutia te tiugā lakia, E kukulima kae ala tahi, gather together like a flock of birds, hold hands and go forward as one.
This year, Tokelau passed resolutions reigning in its council administration, and UN-appointed observers in the atolls will improve village consultations.
And now, for five New Zealand dollars, residents can also pick up an issue of Te Moamoa newspaper.
Hihilia Falani, who writes for the paper, says it's important people know what the government is doing.
"I think it plays a big role because we have a lot more Tokelauans outside of Tokelau and to hear from here what's going on and the happenings between the villages, it's really good. Because I know from experience being outside, I want to hear what's going on here."
Ms Falani, who is 29, was born in Atafu, but only returned this year, after having lived in New Zealand for several years.
As a media officer for the Taupulega, she has one of the few jobs in Tokelauan society.
And, unlike other areas of the public service, it's one where young, digital-savvy, people excel.
20-year-old Tilau Kirifi and his family have also recently migrated back to Atafu, where he has been appointed a media officer.
He says the job has been crucial for integrating into life in the atolls and improving his Tokelauan language skills.
"A good way for us to learn is just having a normal conversation with the old people, who has very fluent, speaking very good Tokelauan, that's a good way to pick up those words that we hardly use nowadays."
Both Te Moamoa and the Nukunonu newspaper, Te Uluga Talafau, are written in a mix of Tokelauan and English.
But young journalists like Ms Falani say they are building up their skills, with the goal of eventually writing exclusively in Tokelauan.
"Everything we've been doing from the beginning has been a learning process for us, especially with our own language, and the more we learn our language and we learn about our culture, the more proud we are to be Tokelauan and to be from where we are."
The man leading this news effort across Tokelau is Fatu Tauafiafi, a former chief reporter with the Samoa Observer newspaper.
Now he's using his skills to build up Tokelau's media as the government's communications specialist.
Mr Tauafiafi says journalism is playing a crucial role in fostering the Tokelauan language for young people like Ms Falani.
"For her, she admits her Tokelauan is not 100%, but by working for the paper, she's able then to talk to the elders, sometimes in English, sometimes in her Tokelauan. But, as she talks more and more, she finds her language is getting better and better, not just in the way that she speaks but also in the knowledge that she's gained."
Tokelau's young journalists aren't going anywhere - there's plans to develop social media and other online content, as well as work towards investigative news stories.
Ms Falani says through the newspapers, the Taupulega have bridged a gap in involving Tokelau's youth in life in the atolls.
"I think they're just trying to provide more opportunities for the younger people of Tokelau because we're developing, and it's time to start using the younger people for the future."
Tokelauan language week runs until Saturday.
