NZ Committee rally local support to restore lost Samoan citizenship

Staff Reporters/

Apia, SAMOA – 21 May 2024 – Members of the Steering Committee in the public campaign to restore citizenship for Samoans lost through the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 are launching their awareness activities in Samoa with a media campaign this morning.

According to the committee, the campaign is to advise Samoa media and the general public of the groups “Mau A Samoa i Le Sitiseni Niu Sila 2024” Steering Komiti / intentions.

The MASILSNZ2024 visiting party consist of Chairman Anae Lupematasila Lima Arthur Anae, Deputy Chair Aupito Toeolesulusulu Tofae Ta’ala Su’a William Sio,  Deputy Chair Tofilau Nina Kirifi-Alai and Secretary Seiuli Savea Leofo Tone Peseta.

The party is travelling to Samoa this week with the purpose and aim to meet and engage with Samoan church leaders, government officials/bureaucrats, political parties, NGOs and general public consultations with the wider people of Samoa to inform and educate on the efforts to restore the bill.

Members Bill by Teanau Tuiono
The Members Bill tabled by the Green List MP and spokesperson for Pacific Peoples, Teanau Tuiono seeks to Restore Samoans Citizenship removed by the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982.

The Bill seeks to reinstate automatic entitlement to New Zealand citizenship for a particular bracket of people born in Western Samoa which was removed through the introduction by the Muldoon led government of the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982.

The Bill is now with a parliamentary Select Committee and one of the main aims of the Samoan Committee is to rally support for Samoans to make submissions before closing on the last day of this month (May).

After meeting the media in Apia this morning, the party is to make a presentation at the EFKS Fono Tele now in progress at the church headquarters at Malua.

With a huge representation of overseas delegates attending the annual church conference, the presentation by Anae and Aupito aims to garner support and engage on putting forward submissions forms on the restoration of the bill.

The party will also co-host a Public Forum with SUNGO at the Tuutuuileloloto Hall, Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Mulivai, Apia again to educate and engage on putting forward submissions forms on the restoration of the bill.

Restoration of Samoan Citizenship rejected by previous Governments
The issue of Samoa citizenship had been one of the issues pushed by Anae Arthur Anae when he was a member of the New Zealand Parliament and also rallied local support but was not supported by then Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and his government.

Aupito Su’a William Sio had also been an influential Pacific leader having been the Minister of Pacific Peoples in the last Labour government but did not push to restore Samoan citizenship lost through the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 until the current efforts by the Green List MP of Cook Island descent Teanau Tuiono.