We congratulate the new Government of New Zealand on winning the General Elections 2023.
New Zealand has a special place in the hearts of all Samoans.
We can never forget the more than 50 years of our association and New Zealand’s role in guiding our country into Nationhood, culminating in our Independence and the Treaty of Friendship in 1962.
I believe this is the only Treaty of its kind, signed by the Government Leaders of New Zealand.
A Treaty is more binding than an Agreement and it reflects the total commitment of the two Governments to work together and more especially for New Zealand to give assistance to the newly established State of Samoa, listed then by the UN in the list of the poorest countries in the World.
Other Island States like Fiji, Tonga, the US Territories and French Colonies have their own special assistance arrangements with their former bosses.
New Zealand is therefore like a second home to our people.
New Zealand is the destination for 90% of our people emigrating overseas, which explains why Samoans represent the biggest minorities in New Zealand.
What then reflects the special practical application of our Friendship Treaty?
Things that make the Friendship Treaty stands out, excluding those activities provided also by other Donor Partners like Australia, eg. The workers’ Schemes, Training, Grants Capacity Building, Entry Visas.
The annual 1100 Immigration Quota is also excluded as it was a compensation by New Zealand for Samoa’s tacit response to the forced removal by both the Government and Parliament of New Zealand through an urgent legislation to remove the right to citizenship of all Samoans born between, 1929 to 1949 as per Privy Council Decision of 1982.
Our many past requests for Government help to our businesses have been met with the usual excuse of Government policy of non-interference with strictly Commercial activities.
Hopefully, the new Government will re-examine New Zealand’s rigid Entry Visas Policies for our people visiting New Zealand for business or cultural events, as a small contribution to our Friendship Treaty.
If this one help is approved for Samoans only, then the Friendship Treaty has some use.
Aotearoa to me is no longer the Land of the Long White Cloud.
It is now “Pogisaroaroa”, the land of total Darkness or in Rugby Terms, the land of the All blacks.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Leader of HRPP