Gonville Kindergarten in Whanganui marks Samoan Language Week

Vincent Pickering (front) with Izella Quennell, Isabella Hennig and Lachie Baskett welcomed officers Keith (Tomo) Thomson Jake Bone and Colin Wright at Gonville Kindergarten. Photo / Stuart Munro

Gonville Kindergarten in Whanganui invited the community to join them for a celebration of Samoan Language Week on Friday.

Children at the kindergarten welcomed guests with a sasa (group dance) led by 4-year-old Vincent Pickering.

Kindergarten manager Katie Fry said children had been practising all week for the celebration.

"We invited the community policing team, and the Whanganui High School Pasifika group came and performed for us.

"It has been a wonderful morning," she said.

"We have the police dogs and their handlers coming this afternoon and everyone is looking forward to that."

Kindergarten families had provided Samoan food such as sapasui (Samoan chop suey), panikeke (doughnuts) and taro dishes.

Police officers Keith (Tomo) Thomson, Jake Bone and Colin Wright were enjoying some time at the kindergarten.

"We got a really nice welcome from the children and it's nice to be invited," said Wright.

The celebration was one of the hundreds held in schools and workplaces during the week.

The theme for Samoan Language Week 2018 has been "Alofa atu nei. Alofa mai taeao - Kindness given, Kindness gained.''

Samoan is the third-most spoken language in New Zealand and Samoan people are the largest Pasifika group in the country.