Prime Minister Flies out for Overdue Medical Check-up

By Esther Yvonne Atonio/

Apia, SAMOA – 15 April 2026: Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt urged Cabinet to prioritise their health before he flew out for an overdue medical check-up in New Zealand after 4.00 this afternoon.

The Prime Minister chaired Cabinets weekly meeting today and held further meetings in his office before leaving for the airport around 2.30pm for a 4.30pm medivac airlift to New Zealand.

La’auli announced his departure in a social media post this morning explaining that his medical checkup in New Zealand was overdue. He said he was supposed to have checkups every six months but have been delayed due to many commitments in the work of government.

He also confirmed that he has been advised by doctors in Samoa, who are monitoring his health that he needed a lot of rest.

It has been seven months since the Laauli led FAST government took over in September 2025 and he said there has been a lot of work to do including implementing developments projects and introducing new initiatives to improve the country and face new global events that pose a threat to Samoa economically.

“The nurses and doctors in Samoa who look after me advise that I need to have a lot of rest. I’m supposed to have checkups every six months and my checkup is overdue,” he said.

La’auli had a major operation on his left ankle in New Zealand a few weeks after he was sworn in as Prime Minister in September last year. He was away for eight weeks and missed his governments first budget that was passed in the shortest time available since early elections were called in August 2025 when the Fiame led government fell in a motion of no confidence in May.

La’auli will be away for a week and the Deputy Prime Minister, Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo has taken over as Acting Prime Minister.