9. Question No. 9—Pacific PeoplesANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour) to the Minister for Pacific PeoplesQuestion No. 9—Pacific PeoplesANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour): How is the Government—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Who was that?Hon Kris Faafoi: I withdraw and apologise.SPEAKER: And the member has just been responsible for some additional questions the number of which I'll decide going to the Opposition. Please start again.9. ANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour) to the Minister for Pacific Peoples: How is the Government promoting an understanding of Pacific languages arts and cultures overseas?Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO (Minister for Pacific Peoples): In April the right honourable Minister Peters announced New Zealand's partnership with the Royal Academy of Arts in London to exhibit Oceania the largest collection of traditional contemporary Māori Polynesian and Melanesian art ever displayed in the United Kingdom with artworks spanning over 500 years. Tonga and Papua New Guinea are cultural co-sponsors of the exhibition. Minister Sepuloni opened the exhibition on behalf of the New Zealand Government on Tuesday. This is an exciting development a unique opportunity and a proud moment for Māori and Pacific peoples in New Zealand to see a small part of ourselves with our representatives being profiled on the world stage with a sophisticated narrative of Pacific peoples who value their languages arts and cultures. Oceania artworks and artists are some of our greatest ambassadors and champions. Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: How will the exhibition improve international understanding of the issues affecting New Zealand and our Pacific neighbours?Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: Oceania will focus UK and international attention to our Pacific region and its peoples. Oceania will highlight through visual and digital arts some of the global issues that Pacific nations are facing such as climate change migration and regional and environmental security. Oceania is an opportunity for New Zealand and Pacific leaders to build dialogue with UK stakeholders and encourage them to take a greater multilateral role in collectively solving these issues. Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: How has the Government ensured that ex-pats are able to see the exhibition? Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: This is exciting: this exhibition is an important part of our story and our history and New Zealanders living in the UK will learn a lot more from seeing Oceania. That's why we've made the entry to the exhibition free for all New Zealand passport holders and all Pacific Island passport holders. People just need to show their passport at the entry to the exhibition.Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: What is the value to New Zealand and its Pacific population of promoting Pacific languages arts and cultures overseas? Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: Exhibitions of this nature are vital in keeping Pacific and Māori languages cultures and arts alive for future generations. Language gives voice to our arts and cultures. We believe that when the language dies a culture dies. When a culture dies our stories and arts will die. When our stories and arts die connections to our lands and environment will die. When our connections to the environment die identities die. When our identities die we will truly be a lost people. Exhibitions such as Oceania help to build greater understanding appreciation and the collective will to uphold and protect the dignity of Māori and Pacific peoples' right to speak their heritage languages and pass it on to the next generation.