The Samoan community in New Zealand will meet with Afioga Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters and the New Zealand First caucus this Friday, 30th August, at Fale o Samoa in Mangere. The meeting, scheduled from 10:30 AM to 1 PM, aims to gain support for MP Teanau Tuiono’s bill to restore citizenship to Samoans affected by the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982.
A post by Teleiai on the Talanoa Live Facebook page announced the upcoming meeting, calling on the community to engage with New Zealand First on this issue.
The Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 revoked the New Zealand citizenship of Samoans born between 1924 and 1949, despite a 1982 Privy Council ruling that recognised their citizenship rights. This legislation was introduced by the Muldoon Government in response to the case of Falema‘i Lesa, a Samoan citizen who successfully argued that she was a New Zealand citizen by birthright.
The proposed Restoring Citizenship Removed By Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 seeks to grant citizenship automatically to those affected, without requiring them to go through the usual application process.
The Samoan community argues that fears of mass migration from Samoa to New Zealand, which influenced the original legislation, were unfounded and reflected a colonial mindset. They view the bill as a necessary step to correct a historical wrong and improve relations between New Zealand and Samoa.
As the community prepares for the meeting, they hope to secure the backing needed to see the bill through its final stages in Parliament.
