The Tongan Language Guidelines

The development of guidelines designed to support the teaching and learning of the Tongan language in New Zealand schools began in 2004. This work was strengthened and supported by close collaboration with Tongan people, and in 2007, the Ministry published Tongan in the New Zealand Curriculum. Ko e Fakahinohino ki he Lea Faka-Tonga: The Tongan Language Guidelines is the updated version of the 2007 Tongan language guidelines. 

• The early childhood section of these guidelines is aligned with Te Whāriki: He Whāriki Mātauranga mo ngā Mokopuna o Aotearoa/Early Childhood Curriculum.  
• The section for schools is aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum for English-medium Teaching and Learning in Years 1–13. 

A hardcopy of Ko e Fakahinohino ki he Lea Faka-Tonga: The Tongan Language Guidelines is available from Down the Back of the Chair. Enter MOE34154 in the search box.

Lea faka-Tonga achievement standards and associated resources are available for schools to use at NCEA levels 1, 2, and 3 

• NZQA Lea Faka-Tonga subject resources provide more information about the achievement standards for lea faka-Tonga. 

Learning languages in NZ schools 

Learning languages in a school setting involves developing learners’ capabilities for both learning languages and using them to communicate across cultural boundaries. 

Students appreciate the deep connections between language and culture and how they work together to express values and meaning in particular ways. 

Learning languages – A guide for New Zealand schools

The Learning languages guide provides information to support the delivery of language programmes.

Principals, language teachers, board of trustees, and those looking to find ways to introduce or enhance language programmes will find comprehensive information in this guide. The guide is a useful reference for how to develop a vision for learning languages based on the benefits for students.