20/10/2026
Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue – Niue Language Week 💙
This year’s theme, “Gahua auloa ke fakaako fakamalolō e Vagahau Niue”, calls on us to work together to teach and strengthen the Niue language.
For tagata Niue (people of Niue), the katoua is a tāoga (treasure) symbolising authority, unity and peace. Unique to Niue, it holds deep cultural significance and is an enduring icon of Niue identity.
In our Our Ocean of Islands exhibition, discover a katoua made by Ioane Aleke Fa‘avae, a knowledge holder from Niue. Crafted from kwila wood, coconut fibre sennit, cowrie shells, hibiscus bark and bird feathers, the katoua reflects generations of spiritual knowledge, craftsmanship and cultural practice passed down through knowledge holders.
Typically held by orators during formal speech-making, welcoming ceremonies and cultural performances, the katoua embodies interconnected realms of knowledge that give rise to fonua (land), moana (sea) and lagi (sky).
Visit Our Ocean of Islands to discover the stories, cultures and knowledge of 24 island nations across Moana Oceania. 🌊