It's Fiji Language Week in New Zealand and our friends in the Fijiana squad help us out with some words we can use to cheer them on during their Rugby World Cup games and different ways to greet someone in other Fijian dialects. Plus Fijiana Head coach Senirusi Seruvakula plays This or That with us sharing his favourite Fijian food. He's accepting Fijian food while he's here in New Zealand too ;)

How to mix and serve kava 101! Roq and Cav breakdown how to mix and serve kava Fiji style in the city - #IslandSkills for those living away from the homeland. #KeepItCoco

Ni Sa Bula or Bula Vinaka - A warm "hello" Andra Vinaka - Good Morning Kai Viti - Native Fijian Na yacaqu o (Na ya thungoo Ko) - My name is ... Au lako mai - I come from Tulou - Excuse me (as you walk past someone seated)  Ni Sa Bula or Bula Vinaka - A warm "hello" Andra Vinaka - Good Morning Au lako mai - I come from Vaka sau sau - to clap - applaud Rawa nui keveta na gone lai lai vinaka - can I hold the baby please Gone - Children

In the Fijian culture we place a salusalu around ones neck which is an affectionate way of showing love and appreciation. Salusalu is the beautiful Fijian style of lei used to welcome guests, for weddings, funerals, and to celebrate achievements, check out these easy steps to know how to make these unique lei in the Pacific and get your salusalu on lock!    

Learn the ins and outs of performing “The Kiu Sa”( Fijian spear dance) with the Sabeto Meke Group. Meke is the term used for Fijian traditional style of dance. There are various styles of meke, such as the war dance, men’s spear dance, women’s fan dance and the sitting dance. Mekes are performed at special events and cultural nights. The dancing and chanting are accompanied by rhythmic clapping and beating of the lali, a traditional Fijian drum.  

Going into any island village or household is not as easy as 1,2,3. Here are five fijian customs to observe when entering a fijian setting – follow this and you will be welcomed by the Momo’s (uncles) and Nei’s (aunties).  

Bislama (pronounced bish-lama) is a pidgin language in Vanuatu. Created in the 1800’s when the native people worked on plantations, the various languages among them formed to create Bislama, now an official language of Vanuatu. 

Ever wondered how to make that yummy palusami you've had at island feasts? Tarisi Vunidilo shares her Fijian style method so you can do it like the best of them. Also make sure to check out our item on how to make a 'lovo'. Steps to making yummy Fiji style palusami: 1. Get yourself some 'Rourou' or taro (dalo) leaves. You can buy these at a number of shops in Aukilani but you have to do your research about where to find them (sssh, Otahuhu across from McD's). Or, grow them yourself or ask a friendly islander.  2. Prepare chopped onion and optionally garlic and ginger. Also, lay out your rourou on bench in piles from largest to smallest. 3. Place coconut creame into a bowl, add onion and tinned corned beef (tini bulumakau). Stir. 4. Place tin foil on bench. 5. Using a spoon spread palusami mix from the bowl onto the tin foil. 6. Place rourou on foil and spread palusami mix over leaves 7. Layer rourou leaves on top, spreading palusami mix over leaves making sure there is a good moist coverage  8. Roll the rourou once then fold either side of the rourou, fold twice more. 9. Grab the sides of the tin foil and crunch to enclose your yummy palusami 10. Place it in your lovo oven and cook for an hour or so 11. Take it out, open it up - and enjoy!! You might want to check out how to make a lovo.

Ever wondered how to make a Fijian lovo? Don't know what it is? Well, here's a clue - you get yummy food out of it. Tarisi Vunidilo teaches a Fiji language and culture class in South Auckland and we joined her while she took her class through a lesson on how to make a Fijian lovo. The lovo is Fiji's method of earth oven cooking similar to the 'hangi' of Aotearoa or the 'umu' of Samoa. Actually it's pretty much the same across the Pacific only with different names. But, definitely it's an easy and awesome way to cook (especially if you've got lots of people to feed at once). Tarisi Vunidilo introduces the method and style of a Fijian lovo as practiced in urban Auckland, Aotearoa, today. Also, check out 'How to make Palusami Fiji Style' also presented by Tarisi. Tarisi's lovo check list goes like this: 1. Prepare a menu for the number of people (volume of food is important) 2. Lovo consists of - meat, chicken & pork, vegetables; palusami and root crops: dalo, tavioka and kumala. 3. Make sure you have enough firewood, large banana leaves and stones for the lovo pit. 4. Prepare your meat by marinating (overnight) and wrap in foil. 5. Prepare your palusami (see our 'how to make palusami item for more) 6. Peel dalo and cassava ready for the lovo 7. Light the fire for the lovo, enough to heat the stones, then throw the firewood out leaving only the hot stones in the pit. 8. Line the food you are planning to cook, on top of the stones. 9. Food to be covered by green leaves to keep the steam in, then cover with soil (or sacks of potatoes and tarpolin). Food will take 60 - 90 minutes to cook. Vinaka  

Check out how to fly like a champ - Fijian styles! Fiji is well-known for it's passion for rugby, and as the official airline of Fiji Rugby, we're thrilled to celebrate along with the entire nation, the Fiji 7s team's achievement as the 2014/2015 Rugby Sevens World Series Champions.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we at Fiji Airways and the team enjoyed making it. #FlyLikeAFijian #GoFijiGo #TosoViti