Our Past, Your Tomorrow: The Village Pathway

When we carry a living connection to the places our ancestors called home, we inherit more than stories – we inherit identity, belonging, and ways of being that keep us well. Grounded in language, practices, and the wisdom of our tautupuna (ancestors), Niue culture does more than survive – it flourishes, becoming a source of strength that nurtures us today and safeguards wellbeing for generations to come.

This is the guiding star of the Village Pathway initiative, a collective of descendants of a single village in Niue unearthing and reconnecting to the indigenous practices and traditions which laid the foundation for those who came before them. Healthy Families Waitākere Pacific Systems Lead, Ella Falakoa, explains:

“The Village Pathway is revitalising ways of being and doing which guided and sustained our tautupuna for generations. Through stories of origin and lologo fakatufono (song), people from the village of Liku Tamahaleleka are learning about what it means to be Tagata Niue (a person of Niue) today, while living in the lands of Aotearoa.”

By entering through the pathway of their village, people find a tangible, personal connection – places, stories, songs that belong uniquely to them. In finding their village, they also find their wider identity as Tagata Niue. Each village story adds to the collective strength of Niue culture, building a living consciousness that connects past, present, and future.

With funding from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ Pacific Languages Community Funding, the collective is resourcing a series of artefacts to preserve the village’s rich history, rooting their story in place and time now, while creating a foundation for generations yet to come. Pepe Lokeni shares:

“Having these artefacts preserves our unique stories and ways of being, standing the test of time. Now our people will always know who we are and have a starting point for their journey of reconnection.”

Vagahau Niue (Niue language) has been declared by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as endangered, with declining numbers of fluent speakers, particularly among younger generations. With Aotearoa holding the largest population of Niue people worldwide, the responsibility and opportunity to sustain the language and culture is here.

Falakoa continues:

“Language carries significant cultural information, historical narratives, and spiritual values – so when we lose language, our culture is also at risk. The Village Pathway initiative, the first of its kind, is designed to turn this tide – a place for people to begin their journey of reconnection to Niue.”

The collective is now in the final stages of producing a documentary celebrating the Liku Tamahaleleka Village, alongside a supporting digital songbook, taoga (treasures) that will anchor Niue identity for generations to come. This initiative is a deeply collaborative effort, made possible through partnerships with those who share the same commitment to this kaupapa. A dedicated all-Pasifika film crew, led by Matavai Taulangau, is capturing the stories with authenticity and care, supported by Tapasā and others who bring their expertise and aroha to ensure these stories are told in the right way.