Penrhyn language – The voice of Tongareva in the Northern Cook Islands
The Penrhyn language is a dialect of Cook Islands Māori, part of the great Polynesian language family. It is spoken by around 200 people on Penrhyn Island, also known as Tongareva, and on other islands of the Northern Cook Islands. Like every Polynesian language, it carries the memory of the voyagers who settled these remote atolls, along with their place names, chants and knowledge of sea and reef.
Today Penrhyn is considered endangered, as many speakers are shifting to Cook Islands Māori and English. Every word, song and story that is recorded helps keep this heritage alive. Do you speak Penrhyn or know stories and expressions from Tongareva? Share them here and help preserve the language!