Celebrating Bislama Week with Vianca Patrick

To Celebrate Aotearoa Bislama Language Week 2026,Valorie Patrick (host of Yumi Talem radio show on Fresh FM) Interviewed Vianca Patrick,Leader in the Manutai Pacific Council at Motueka High School.

At just 16 years old, Vianca is already making a positive impact in her school and community while proudly representing her Ni-Vanuatu heritage.

Vianca attended Riwaka Primary School for eight years before beginning her journey at Motueka High School. There, she became involved in a Pacific student leadership group and helped establish Manutai, a name that means "the power and strength of the ocean."

Manutai was created to support Pacific students by providing leadership, guidance, and a safe space where students feel comfortable talking about challenges they face at school. The group works together to find solutions, encourage one another, and strengthen the Pacific community within the school. As one of the first initiatives of its kind, Manutai is helping build confidence, belonging, and leadership among Pacific students.

As the leader of Manutai, Vianca has taken part in many outdoor adventures, including leadership camps. One memorable experience involved dragging canoes across the mud after the group misjudged the tides and the water had gone out. While challenging, the experience taught valuable lessons about teamwork, resilience, and perseverance.

Beyond leadership, Vianca also participates in cultural performances with students from other schools, performing in showcases across Nelson and Blenheim and celebrating the richness of Pacific cultures through dance.

One of Vianca's proudest achievements was representing the Ni-Vanuatu community as the only Ni-Vanuatu student from the Nelson Tasman region to participate in the inaugural Pacific Languages Speech Festival at Nelson College. Standing alongside students representing other Pacific languages, she delivered a speech entirely in Bislama, proudly showcasing Vanuatu's national language.

Her participation was a milestone for both herself and the Ni-Vanuatu community. It demonstrated the importance of preserving and celebrating the Bislama language while inspiring other young Ni-Vanuatu to embrace their culture, language, and identity with pride.

Vianca also carries an important message for young people. She encourages everyone to care for the environment, make responsible choices that protect the planet, and help reduce the impacts of climate change. She believes that protecting our environment goes hand in hand with protecting our future and preserving our cultural heritage.

As she reflects on her journey, Vianca reminds us all of the importance of staying connected to our roots.

"It is important to keep our culture close to us and never lose our identity. I wish everyone around the world a happy Bislama Language Week. God bless, and thank you very much."

Vianca's story is a powerful reminder that young people can be leaders today. Through language, culture, service, and community, she is proudly carrying the Ni-Vanuatu identity into the future and inspiring the next generation to do the same.

(Click here to listen to her interview)