NZ Citizenship for Samoans restored but for how many?

Apia, Samoa – 21 November 2024 – The Citizenship Western Samoa Restoration Amendment Bill 2024 passed its final reading in New Zealand Parliament late yesterday afternoon.

The law recognizes the 1982 Privy Council ruling that Samoans born between 1924 and 1948 were British subjects and therefore entitled to New Zealand citizenship.

But in August 1982, the Muldoon led National government enacted the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act, which nullified the decision.

The Bill restoring citizenship was unanimously supported by parliament yesterday. It’s been hailed as correcting a historic injustice and has been welcomed by long term campaigners and supporters such as former National MP Anae Arthur Anae.

“Injustice has been fixed to a certain extent, but we’ve got to be happy about it,” Anae told RNZ. “So we’re all rejoicing today, that we got a victory for everybody.

Falema’i Lesa, a hotel cook in Wellington, who was arrested by immigration officials  in 1978 and fought her case all the way to the Privy Council in London, that ruled that Samoans born between 1924 and 1948 were British subjects and therefore entitled to New Zealand citizenship.

The Bill to restore New Zealand citizenship for these Samoans, was submitted by Green Party opposition MP Teanau Tuiono of Cook Islands descent.

Having gone through the first and second reading and the Committee stages, there had been astounding support from Samoans in New Zealand and Samoa including the previous HRPP government leaders who rejected Anae and his supporters campaign and their petition signed by 90,000 Samoans twenty years ago.

The Samoan governments’ attitude then, “it was a matter for the New Zealand government.”

The fight to correct the wrong was also not raised by other MPs of Samoan descent who were in the previous New Zealand governments.

Until the Green MP Teanau Tuiono’s Private Members Bill went through parliament.

The resounding support for the bill from New Zealand is a recognition of the injustice being done to those Samoans who were denied of their rights for forty two years.

But the real numbers are not fully known even though other media report the number to be in the thousands.

Samoa’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Afamasaga Faamatala Toleafoa is among those affected by the legislative change.

“I fall into that category, I don’t think there’s an awful lot of morale, when you look at the numbers, most of them have passed away, there is a small number of them alive,” Afamasaga said speaking after the bill was passed.

“I know the Samoan Government took a backstep on this, not wanting to be involved, but that this is a matter for the New Zealand Government to deal with.”

The few identified so far now living in New Zealand, have advanced in their years and have major health conditions. They may get assistance from the systems if they do become New Zealand citizens under the new law.

Sadly, after fighting various health conditions for years, one elderly Samoan man was put to rest in Auckland last weekend. His son lamented that his father would have been glad if he lived to see this going through.

But the son will not be entitled under this law as such citizenship is not extended to the descendants.

Former National MP Anae Arthur Anae and Repeka Lelaulu president of P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A Inc. 20 November 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific/Coco Lance

According to Anae Arthur Anae, the work is not over.

The thinking seems to be to ask the New Zealand government to make further amendments to what is now law, for the descendants.

Given the two countries history and the New Zealand governments’ attitude that blocked these Samoan peoples’ rights in 1982, it could be another long arduous battle.

But for the time this historic event occurred, the New Zealand Parliament was filled with pride and joy as around 200 Samoans and other Pasifika people packed in. There was singing, laughter, and tears after they heard the final reading being passed.