Rachael Mario is a Rotuman New Zealand community leader, social worker, and advocate for the Rotuman language. She is Chairperson of the Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Group.[1][2][3][4] She also helped setup the world's first Rotuman Community Centre in 2020, where language and culture is taught and promoted.[5]
Rachael Mario | |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | New Zealand |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Known for | Rotuman language advocacy |
| Board member of | Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Group |
Mario is known for her work in protecting and preserving her native indigenous Rotuman language.[6] In 2018, she founded the Rotuman Language Week, a week celebrating the endangered Rotuman language, which is now celebrated in New Zealand and Fiji in May.[7][8] In 2019 she lodged a complaint with the New Zealand Human Rights Commission against the Ministry for Pacific Peoples alleging discrimination against Rotumans by the failure to recognise their language.[9] Other Rotuman groups accused her of misrepresenting the community.[7] She has also spoken out in support of the issue of Fijian Hindu claims to a Pasifika, rather than an Asian, identity.[10] She contested the 2022 New Zealand local elections, standing for a seat on the Puketāpapa Local Board, as part of the Roskill Community Voice consortium, Mount Roskill, Auckland.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Love of social work propels Rotuma's Rachael Mario into local elections | Asia Pacific Report". 2024-04-19. Archived from the original on 2024-04-19. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ "ABOUT US". rotuma.website. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ "NZ Fiji Indigenous Business Leaders Meet To Promote "Solesolevaki" (Coming Together For The Greater Good) | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ "Rotuman Language Week: Sustainability, Vetḁkia, at the heart of the language protection". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ "First-ever Rotuman Community Centre in New Zealand set to be opened". Pacific Media Network. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ "Rotuman community celebrate 'unique' language with song, dance". RNZ. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ a b Lee, Irra (2021-05-13). "Kiwi Rotumans fight to keep their endangered Pacific language alive". 1 News. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
- ^ Raman, Venkat (2021-05-07). "Rotuman Community Language Week from Sunday". indiannewslink.co.nz. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
- ^ Arvind Kumar (12 December 2019). "Rotumans claim unlawful discrimination, complaint lodged with NZ Human Rights Commission". Stuff. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ RNZ (2021-04-01). "NZ's Fijian-Indians want to be recognised as Pasifika, not Asians". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ Laurens Ikinia (2 September 2022). "Rotuman social justice advocate puts key bid for Roskill Community Voice". Asia Pacific Report. Retrieved 14 September 2022.