Rachael Mario Explained

Citizenship:New Zealand
Occupation:Activist
Known For:Rotuman language advocacy
Boards:Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Group

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]

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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2024-04-19 . Love of social work propels Rotuma’s Rachael Mario into local elections Asia Pacific Report . 2024-08-18 . web.archive.org.
  2. Web site: ABOUT US . 2024-08-18 . rotuma.website.
  3. Web site: 21 June 2024 . NZ Fiji Indigenous Business Leaders Meet To Promote “Solesolevaki” (Coming Together For The Greater Good) Scoop News . 2024-08-18 . www.scoop.co.nz.
  4. Web site: Rotuman Language Week: Sustainability, Vetḁkia, at the heart of the language protection . 2024-08-18 . www.stuff.co.nz.
  5. Web site: 24 July 2020 . First-ever Rotuman Community Centre in New Zealand set to be opened . 14 September 2022 . Pacific Media Network.
  6. Web site: Rotuman community celebrate 'unique' language with song, dance . RNZ . 13 May 2021 . 14 September 2022.
  7. Web site: Lee . Irra . 2021-05-13 . Kiwi Rotumans fight to keep their endangered Pacific language alive . 2022-09-13 . 1 News . en.
  8. Web site: Raman . Venkat . 2021-05-07 . Rotuman Community Language Week from Sunday . 2022-09-13 . indiannewslink.co.nz . en-US.
  9. Web site: Rotumans claim unlawful discrimination, complaint lodged with NZ Human Rights Commission . Stuff . Arvind Kumar . 12 December 2019 . 14 September 2022.
  10. Web site: RNZ . 2021-04-01 . NZ's Fijian-Indians want to be recognised as Pasifika, not Asians . 2024-08-18 . The Fiji Times . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2 September 2022 . Rotuman social justice advocate puts key bid for Roskill Community Voice . Asia Pacific Report . Laurens Ikinia . 14 September 2022 . en-US.

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