Tonga language week ends with concerns that not enough young people speaking the language

Nuku'alofa, TONGA — Tongan language week ends today after days of language and cultural displays.

Students of Tongan heritage across New Zealand, celebrated the annual event, wearing traditional outfits to school and performing traditional dances in general assembly halls.

Language week has been held amidst concerns the younger generations will lose their mother tongue.

The head girl at Wesley College, Mia Lataimaumi shares these sentiments.

"I do feel the same way, it's hard to see our generation now speaking our mother tongue in public.

I feel the only time we teenagers and kids will speak our cultural language is at home. Because I feel being raised in this generation, there's a lot of judgment. People sort of losing confidence from it," she said.