Tongan communities in Aotearoa
A starting point for building your understanding of Tongan culture. It includes some common concepts, terms and phrases that families in Aotearoa might use and value. Read it alongside the related page Pacific peoples and cultures in Aotearoa.
Land and people
The Kingdom of Tonga includes 171 islands. It is the only constitutional monarchy in the Pacific. It has a class structure written into its constitution which divides kakai Tonga (Tongan people) into 3 classes:
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Tu’i (the King)
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Hou’eiki (nobility) and matāpule (chiefs)
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Kakai Tu’a (commoners)
All land belongs to the King. The nobility and matapule are stewards of the King’s lands.
A significant proportion of Tongan children in Aotearoa speak Tongan, but this is not as common in New Zealand-born generations and ethnically mixed families.
Society
Tongans are born into their place in Tongan society. Privileges, duties and responsibilities are associated with class. People address each other in language that is appropriate to their rank, for example, with different greetings for:
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royalty “Mālo e Lakoifie”
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nobility “Mālo e Laumalie”
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commoners “ Mālo e lelei ”.
Males have legal privilege over females in land inheritance and succession to the throne.
Family roles
Tongan family structure
In a traditional kainga:
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the paternal kainga often holds a higher standing in decision-making than the maternal kainga, depending on the situation, family concerned and context
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the ‘ulumotu’a , the head of the paternal kainga, makes the final decision when a family cannot reach agreement
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sisters take precedence over brothers in families.
First born sons and daughters have particular status.
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They link the families of the parents together as kin.
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They’re raised to be aware of responsibility and expectations from an early age, including looking out for younger siblings and, over time, the kainga.
Mehikitanga (paternal aunts) or fahu (eldest paternal aunt in an extended family) traditionally have naming rights for their brothers’ children.
Family terms
| Tongan | English |
|---|---|
| ‘ofefine | daughter |
| foha | son |
| pēpē | baby |
| makapuna | grandchild |
| tamasi’i | child, boy |
| ta’ahine | girl |
| tamaiki | children |
| fānau | children |
| fa’ee | mother, maternal aunt |
| tamai | father, paternal uncle, father’s brothers and male cousins |
| fa’ee tangata | maternal uncle, maternal male cousins |
| tokoua | sibling |
| kāinga | extended families |
| mehikitanga | paternal aunt |
| fahu | eldest paternal aunt in an extended family |
| ‘ulumotu’a | head of the paternal kainga (male) |
Common terms and phrases
| Tongan | English |
|---|---|
| Mālō e lelei | Greetings, hello |
| Mou me’a mai | Welcome, come in (to more than 2 people) |
| Mou me’a ā | Goodbye (to more than 2 people) |
| Fēfē hake? | How are you? |
| Sai pe, mālō | I'm fine, thank you |
| Kataki | Please |
| Mālō (or) fakafeta’i | Thank you |
| Tulou | Excuse me |
| ‘Alu ā | Goodbye (to a person who is leaving) |
| Nofo ā | Goodbye (response to ‘Alu ā from the person leaving) |
| Fakamolemole | Apologies, sorry |
| Muli | A non-Tongan |
Working with Pacific peoples: Va'aifetū
Most of the information in this article comes from Va'aifetū, the Oranga Tamariki cultural practice tool for working with Pacific children and their families. Read it to find out more about Pacific cultures and building relationships with Pacific peoples.
Working with Pacific peoples: Va'aifetū | Practice Centre(external link)
