Committee rejects NZ citizenship for descendants of Samoan British subjects

Apia, Samoa – 07 November 2024 – Efforts to extend the eligibility of the New Zealand Citizenship to the descendants of those Samoans born between 1924 and 1949 as per the Privy Council decision 1982, have not been supported by the Whole House session of the New Zealand parliament.

On October 24, the ruling coalition of National, New Zealand First and ACT supported the Citizenship (Western Samoa) (Restoration) Amendment Act 2023 on the basis the citizenship rights do not extend to the descendants and a further amendment to extend citizenship to Samoans who were born before 1 January 1962, the day when Samoa became independent from New Zealand.

The Committee of the Whole House session however accepted only one amendment.

The amendment put forward by Andy Foster, MP for New Zealand First Party and committee member of the Governance & Administration Committee; proposed to refund applicants who will be successful in their citizenship applications. This means, the application fee will be refunded for any successful eligible applicant under the Bill.

Green MP Teanau Tuiono who sponsored the Bill put up two amendments of his own which were:

1. To extend the eligibility of the Citizenship to the descendants as well as those who were born before 1 January 1962; and

2. To allow for the application to be free of charge.

Teanau however was unsuccessful in getting the support of the majority of the House, with Labour & Te Pāti Māori in support and the ruling coalition parties National, ACT and New Zealand First voting against.