Families across Samoa are seeking clarity on financial support available to elderly relatives who have recently obtained New Zealand citizenship.
Two main benefits have caused confusion: the Emergency Benefit and Superannuation.
The Emergency Benefit is only available to NZ citizens residing permanently in New Zealand. This means parents who gain citizenship but choose to stay in Samoa are not eligible. Many elderly people who have moved to NZ now receive between $420 and $460 per week under this benefit. However, some applications have been declined or are under review due to incorrect or incomplete information.
Superannuation, or the pension, is available to citizens aged 65 and over, but only after 10 years of living in New Zealand. Currently, those granted citizenship under the Western Samoa Citizenship Act 1982 do not qualify unless they meet this residency requirement. While the benefit can be received from Samoa, the 10-year rule remains a barrier.
An initiative called Faliu le La, coordinated by the ASA Foundation, is supporting families of elderly citizens and pushing for a waiver of the 10-year rule. The campaign comes after the NZ Government restored citizenship access following a bill by MP Teanau Tuiono. Citizenship had been stripped from many Samoans for over four decades.
Despite the challenges, citizenship grants several other entitlements, including a New Zealand passport, access to public health services, housing assistance, and the SuperGold Card.
Families who wish to join the support group or need help with applications are encouraged to contact Edwin Puni at [email protected].
Citizenship applications for those born in Samoa before 1949 can be made through the NZ Government website:
https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/apply-for-nz-citizenship-if-born-in-samoa-before-1949/
For legal support, families can also contact Samoan immigration lawyers:
- Salamasina Tim Toilolo: (09) 266 0122 / [email protected]
- Diana Bell: (09) 200 1745 / [email protected]
Gagana Samoa
Fa’amataga mo aiga – Emergency Benefit ma Superannuation
O loo toʻatele aiga ua fesootai mai e fia manino i faʻamanuiaga tau tupe mo o latou tuaa ua manuia i le sitiseni Niu Sila. O lenei faʻasoa o se fesoasoani e faʻamanino ai le eseesega i le va o le Emergency Benefit ma le Super Annuation.
Emergency Benefit
- O le seleni lenei e agavaʻa ai le tagata sitiseni NZ e nofo mau i Niu Sila. E le agavaʻa iai nai tuaa ua maua le sitiseni ae nonofo pea i Samoa.
- Mo faʻamatalaga ma aiaiga:
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/emergency-benefit.html - E tele matua ua siitia mai i NZ ma ua maua le latou Emergency Benefit ($420–$460 NZD i le vaiaso).
- E mafai ona faʻaauau le Emergency Benefit pe a malaga i Samoa mo sina taimi – vaʻai i tulafono a le WINZ.
- E iai nisi ua teena a latou talosaga ona o faʻamatalaga lē atoatoa.
- Afai e iai ni faʻafitauli, faʻafesoʻotaʻi Teleiai Edwin Puni i le imeli: [email protected]
Super Annuation
- E agavaʻa ai tagata sitiseni NZ i le 65 tausaga, pe a atoa le 10 tausaga o le nonofo i NZ talu ona maua le sitiseni.
- Mo faʻamatalaga ma aiaiga:
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/seniors/superannuation/who-can-get-it/index.html - E mafai ona nofo i Samoa ma maua pea le Super Annuation pe a agavaʻa.
- Ae i le taimi nei, e lē agavaʻa i latou na maua le sitiseni i lalo o le tulafono Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 ona e leʻi nofo i NZ mo le 10 tausaga.
- O loo faia se taumafaiga i le Malo o Niu Sila e faʻaitiitia ai le 10 tausaga mo nai tuaa.
- Faʻamolemole resitala i le polokalame Faliu le La o loo faʻamamaluina e le ASA Foundation.
Faʻamanuiaga o le sitiseni NZ
- Tusifolau Niu Sila – mafai ai ona malaga e aunoa ma se visa i NZ, Ausetalia ma isi atunuu.
- SuperGold Card mo i latou ua atoa le 65 tausaga:
https://supergold.govt.nz/ - Avanoa i togafitiga faʻafomaʻi ma auaunaga mo le soifua maloloina.
- Talosaga mo fale o le Malo pe a manaʻomia.
Faʻaopoopo
- E leʻi faigofie ona toe maua le sitiseni NZ talu mai le 1982. Faʻafetai tele i le faipule Teanau Tuiono mo le faʻauluina o le pili.
- E iai nisi matua e faigatā ona malaga, ae o le fautuaga ia faia pea le talosaga ona a manuia, e toe refund le seleni na totogia.
- O loo i ai le support group – Faliu le La mo aiga o matua ua maua le sitiseni. Faʻafesoʻotaʻi: [email protected]
- Mo le talosagaina o le sitiseni mo i latou na fanau i Samoa aʻo leʻi 1949:
https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/apply-for-nz-citizenship-if-born-in-samoa-before-1949/
Fesoʻotaʻi ma loia mo talosaga
- Salamasina Tim Toilolo – (09) 266 0122 / [email protected]
- Diana Bell – (09) 200 1745 / [email protected]
