PM Fiame recovering in New Zealand after surgery

By Lagi Keresoma

Apia, Samoa – 19 December 2023: Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa is recovering after surgery last Thursday in Auckland, New Zealand.

A senior family member confirmed with Talamua that she is still under medical observation and might be in New Zealand for a while.

She also said Fiame is eager to return home to attend Parliaments last sitting for the year that starts today but has been advised otherwise.

The relative said it was not the first time Fiame has had surgery after attending an international conference.

During this trip, Fiame travelled to London where she had an audience with King Charles. She then attended COPS28 in Dubai where she was on a wheel chair when photographed with other world leaders at the conference opening.

She was hospitalized and required an operation when she arrived in New Zealand.

Talamua requested for official information from Foreign Affairs when the Prime Minister appeared in the UK media meeting King Charles and were told they would get back after obtaining information from the team travelling with the Prime Minister.

We also inquired with government following reports of the Prime Ministers hospitalization in New Zealand but there has been no official information received so far.

The relative said that an old back injury had caused Fiame pain now and then and it was good she went through surgery to rectify the problem.

The relative said although she will be missed in some families’ activities scheduled for the holidays, she is glad however for her to remain in New Zealand until the doctors have cleared her to return home.