A new book in the Tongan language has been published recently by the Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland, in New Zealand.

Co-authored by Dr `Okusitino Mahina, with Tevita `O. Ka`ili and his sister `Anapesi Ka`ili, the book ““Ko e Ngaahi `Ata mei he Hisitolia mo e Kalatua `o Tonga: Ke Tufunga`i ha Lea Tonga Fakaako”, is about ““Some Images from the History and Culture of Tonga: Towards Creating a Tongan Academic Language””.

The book's seven chapters include original essays of the authors across a number of fields, specifically in the area of Tongan art and literature, such as the predominance of colours red (kula) and black (`uli) in Pacific material arts, as well as the formal, substantial and functional distinction between Tongan material and performance arts (tufunga and faiva), amongst many others.

The cover design of the book, named ““Kula-mo-`Uli” (“Red-and-Black”), was created by Filipe Tohi, along with the so-called lalava language (Haulea) in which the title of the book and names of the authors were written.

Dr Mahina believes that this new book is probably the first of its kind. "As language advocators, the authors sincerely believe that such a project would be of immense value to the maintenance and development of literacy in schools and speakers of the language at large. Given the problems encountered by Tongans on all levels in education in Tonga and abroad are immediately cultural and linguistic, this book will be a welcome addition to the much-needed resources required by our people," he said.

The proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards research and publication of more books.

As Chairperson of the Tefisi Village Education and Development Trust (TVEDT), Dr Mahina also teaches Pacific political economy and Pacific arts in anthropology at the University of Auckland; Mr Ka`ili is currently doing his PhD at Washington State University in Seattle and teaching at BYU-Hawai`i; and Ms Ka`ili is doing her doctoral studies while also teaching at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Copies of the book can be obtained from the Centre for Pacific Studies or Department of Anthropology, The University of Auckland.