The New Zealand Internal Affairs Department has approved 49 citizenship applications from Samoans under the recently amended Citizenship (Western Samoa) (Restoration) Act.
The new law, passed unanimously in Parliament last month, restores a pathway to citizenship for 3,500 Samoans who lost it in 1982. Maria Robertson, Deputy Chief Executive of Internal Affairs, said the department has received 154 applications so far, including 71 from Samoa.
“Forty-nine applications have been approved, and those applicants are receiving or have already received a full refund of their application fees,” Robertson stated.
This week, the department expects 110 more applications from the New Zealand High Commission in Samoa. One application has been declined because it didn’t meet the criteria.
Robertson explained that the department has made several changes, including updating processing systems, creating application forms in both English and Samoan, and working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to prepare the High Commission in Apia.
A staff member has been in Apia for two weeks to help with questions and applications. On November 26, over 500 people visited the High Commission, though daily visits have since decreased.
Since the law was passed, there have been 777 calls and emails about the Act, and nearly 2,900 application forms have been downloaded. However, the department won’t process applications from December 23 to January 3.
