Students from the Gafoa Le Ata Samoan Bilingual unit at the Kowhai Intermediate School in Auckland New Zealand have had the opportunity of reconnecting to their Samoan roots during a seven-day trip to Samoa. 

These are Year 7 and Year 8 students who were in the country to learn more about the culture and life in Samoa and to experience what they are taught in the classrooms back in New Zealand about their homelands. 

According to a statement from the Gafoa Le Ata Samoan Bilingual unit who were in the country, the trip brings the subject of learning to life and helps students to better understand the importance of the subject in "real life". 

"Malaga's purpose for Gafoa Le Ata students was all about reconnecting to their roots, connecting the dots of what we have learnt about our homeland to real Samoa context “authenticity”.

"By allowing students to make connections or apply classroom material to real world situations, students will understand and appreciate the value in our Samoan culture, our values, the importance of learning the gagana in Aotearoa and why it is important to have these language nests in schools in NZ. 

"We are one of the first Intermediate schools from New Zealand to do these malagas, this is our third malaga to Samoa."

While in Samoa, the students were hosted by two primary schools, Gaga'emalae Primary School in Savai'i and Samoa Primary in Apia.

They also had a tour of the big island of Savai'i and a day at Lalotalie Ecat Adventure in Lefaga, Robert Louis Stevenson Museum and a visit to the Parliament House in Mulinu'u. 

"It's been a very educational, culture rich, eye opening experience for our students and parents on the malaga.

"Samoa, we will be back in 2025. 

"One of the highlights for our students and parents was the bus ride and the bus service provided. It was such a vibe for our malaga. We hired two buses to get around the island for the seven days of malaga."

The Office of the Clerk of Legislative Assembly (O.C.L.A.) hosted the students and teachers from Kowhai Intermediate last week.