Pacific Justice seeks further support of its NZ 3-month visa petition

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 22 October 2026 – The Pacific Justice, led by former National MP, Anae Arthur Anae continues to advocate for more signatures to support its petition for a 3-month free entrance visa to New Zealand.

Anae is currently in Samoa meeting with the Government and visiting universities and the public through the District Councils, to talk about the petition.

A longstanding campaigner for Samoans’ rights to easier entrance and New Zealand citizenship, he had not been supported by two previous Samoan governments.

It took Anae 27 years to get citizenship through the Privy Councils decision on Falema’i Lesa, and is now campaigning through Pacific Justice, for visa on arrival for Samoans in a petition to go to the New Zealand parliament.

He said they already presented their petition to the New Zealand First Party leader Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters after it was evaluated.

“We already have the support of 2 political parties, the Greens and Labour and with the election next month, everything is on hold now,” he said.

According to Anae, after the election and whichever Government takes over, the Minister for Immigration will either take the petition to the House or to the Select Committee.

But he hopes that the petition goes through the first and second reading so that it will give an opportunity for Samoans and other Pacific islands supporters to present submissions.

“Our petition in Parliament closes on 31^st January 2027 and so far, we have collected more than 5000 signatures, but we need more,” said Anae.

The Overstayers Excuse
Anae said about 3.2 billion people around the world arrive in New Zealand and get a free visa on arrival. But not Samoans and other Pacific Island countries and the song New Zealand has been singing for a very long time is “over stayers” issue.

He said there are more than 20,000 over stayers in New Zealand from different countries.

“Only 4000 from the Pacific Islands and that’s a minimal number compared to the 5 million population of New Zealand,” he said.

He believes that New Zealand is using the overstayer issue as an excuse every time the issue of free entry visas come up.

He however is excited about a resolution proposed by Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters regarding the overstayers issue.

Vaovasamanaia proposed a policy if he returns to Parliament, to give all overstayers 24 months to voluntarily leave New Zealand to clean up the system and then re-apply.

For Samoa and other Pacific islands, they also have 24 months to re-apply while still residing in New Zealand.

“If their application is not accepted, then they should return to their country voluntarily, and should they refuse, they will be deported and never return to New Zealand,” he said.

Anae also acknowledged Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt as the first Prime Minister of Samoa to support him and his efforts for easier entrance into New Zealand.

In a public meeting with the Pacific Justice at the Sails Restaurant on Monday evening, Laauli reiterated his support and acknowledged Anae’s perseverance in fighting for Samoa and the Pacific.