Green MP launches Bill to Restore Samoan Citizenship Removed in 1982

By Lagi Keresoma

04 AUGUST 2022: The Green List MP and spokesperson for Pacific Peoples, Teanau Tuiono, is launching a Members Bill in Auckland this morning to Restore Samoans Citizenship removed by the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982.

A brief from the Members office said “This Bill would seek to reinstate automatic entitlement to New Zealand citizenship for a particular bracket of people born in Western Samoa which was removed through the introduction of the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982.”

“It will do this by repealing the Act and by creating a new category of citizenship for those affected.”

New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern left Samoa Tuesday afternoon where she and a multi-party delegation attended the commemoration of 60 years of the Treaty of Friendship between Samoa and New Zealand. She avoided a direct response to a question to make travel easier for Samoans to enter New Zealand under the Treaty.

Teanau Tuiono is the Green Party Aotearoa spokesperson for Agriculture; Biosecurity; Education; Fisheries (Pacific Peoples); Pasifika; Regional Economic Development; Research, Science & Development & Rural Communities.