Samoa & New Zealand sign renewed Partnership Agreement

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 09 February 2024: The Samoa and New Zealand Governments today signed a renewal of their Partnership Agreement that places priority on issues of mutual interest.

The renewed Partnership Agreement was signed in Apia this morning by Samoa’s Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa and New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters.

The document highlights issues of mutual interest that include Climate Change, Human & Economic Development, Security, Environment and New Zealand’s support for Samoa in hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October this year.

At a joint press conference, Fiame said the signing of the renewal of the Partnership Agreement highlights areas of cooperation both countries have agreed upon for the next 5 years.

The original Partnership Agreement was signed in 2019.

She acknowledged and commended New Zealand for their support in hosting CHOGM citing the close relationship between Samoa and Zealand as reflected by the Treaty of Friendship.

“This is an opportunity for us to reconnect and renew relations with the new administration and of course areas of cooperation,” said Fiame.

Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters acknowledged the relationship with Samoa and said the agreement has a lot of priority issues that need to be addressed which include the longstanding issues of immigration and the Regional Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme.

On the free travel visa for Samoa, he said the issue was discussed in the past but there are changes.

Vaovasamanaia’s visit to Samoa is part of his mission in strengthening relations with the Pacific Islands as major power shifts emerge in geopolitics with China’s growing influence in the region.

He said his visit to the Pacific is an opportunity for New Zealand to continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Pacific islands.

He also met the Opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, the Minister for Health and other key stakeholders before visiting SPREP tomorrow morning

Vaovasamanaia’s delegation includes the Minister of Health and Pacific Peoples, Dr Shane Reti and the delegation will attend the local celebrations of the Waitangi Day celebrations in Apia tonight.