Tongan language

In 2019, Sione Tapani Mangisi and his wife Irene visited Auckland and by chance managed to catch up with Mangisi's two friends from when they studied trade in Wellington in the 1960s.

It was after that reunion of over 30 years that Mangisi went back home to Melbourne and started writing the Manatu Melie [sweet memories] series.

"When my friends and I were reminiscing, the memories were so beautiful and sweet, hence the name of the series.

"I have been thinking about writing and recapturing our shared stories for quite some time.

The Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) in Otara started offering a free level three certificate in the Tongan language in July.

The school's deputy chief executive Pasifika, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, said MIT's board agreed to prioritise Pacific learning outcomes late last year.

"Our belief is that if students are strong in their language, their culture and their heritage and understand where they come from and where they're going to, they're going to be more successful in the classroom and out in society," he said.

According to the Shanghai Daily, the University currently teaches 84 languages and plans to increase that number to 100 by 2020. The Tongan language was recently added to the list along with Samoan, Maori and other little known languages from around the world.

Guo Wei, an official at the University, said “The university is helping to equip more students with language skills and knowledge of regional affairs to meet the demand.”

They are developing proficiency in languages of countries they trade with.