Over 300 elderly Samoans who have been granted New Zealand citizenship were honoured this week at a community gathering organised by the ASA Foundation’s FALIU LE LA initiative in Manurewa.
The event took place on Monday at the Manurewa Sports Centre and was attended by families, community leaders, and church ministers who welcomed and acknowledged the senior citizens—many of whom have waited decades for formal recognition of their status in Aotearoa.
The service was led by Rev Filemoni Tuigamala, with support from Father Michael Endemann, Rev Toleafoa Larry Leatuavao Tupai Lavea, and Pastor Mikaele Bureta. Chief Fepuleai Semi Fepuleai gave a formal orator’s speech on behalf of Tumua ma Pule, the traditional spokespersons of Samoa, to welcome the elders and commend their resilience and contribution.
A key guest at the event was Member of Parliament Teanau Tuiono, who reintroduced a Member’s Bill into the New Zealand Parliament to restore citizenship rights to Samoans stripped of their status in 1982. Tuiono’s bill has received widespread support, especially from the Pacific community. Also present was a representative from the Green Party, who had worked alongside the campaign to advocate for change.
The ASA Foundation’s CEO, Tofilau Esther Tevaga, confirmed that more than 300 elderly citizens have registered under FALIU LE LA, a dedicated programme supporting senior Samoans to access the full benefits of their newly reinstated citizenship.
“We started this to ensure our elderly are not left behind,” said Tofilau. “Many of them have contributed to New Zealand for years—through family, culture, and service—yet had no access to the same support other citizens enjoy.”
The monthly gathering provides a vital social space for older people in South Auckland, many of whom face loneliness when their children are away working or studying. The FALIU LE LA programme not only offers companionship but also helps elders understand and apply for government services such as health appointments, housing support, and financial assistance.
One key issue addressed during the event was access to the Emergency Benefit. Many families have reported difficulty navigating the system, especially when Superannuation applications are rejected due to the 10-year residency requirement. As a result, the Emergency Benefit remains the primary support option for newly naturalised Samoans.
However, there have been complications. Some applications have been declined when WINZ interprets a visit to New Zealand as temporary.
“The benefit is for permanent residents,” said a staff member. “It’s not designed for visitors, even if they hold a passport.”
To assist families, the ASA Foundation is offering direct support with benefit applications and can be contacted via [email protected]. The next FALIU LE LA gathering will be held on Monday, 4 August at the same venue, and all elderly Samoans are welcome.
As Samoa and Aotearoa continue to navigate shared history, events like this serve as a reminder of the importance of recognition, support, and the enduring bond between the two nations.
About the Author
Teleiai Edwin Puni is the founder and CEO of the ASA Foundation and serves as Chairman of the Pacific Leadership Forum. He is a dedicated advocate for Pacific elders, citizenship justice, and community wellbeing, having led key initiatives including cultural markets and crisis support efforts.
SAMOAN VERSION
Silia i le 300 tuaa Samoa o le sitiseni ua resitala i le FALIU LE LA – Fa’atumulia le fa’atasiga a le FALIU LE LA i le Aso Gafua lea sa fa’afeiloai ai nai tuaa mai Samoa ua fa’amanuiaina i le sitiseni Niu Sila ma ua alala nei i Aukilani. O le fa’afeagaiga ia Rev Filemoni Tuigamala sa taitaia le sauiniga ae lagolago iai le afioga ia Patele Michael Endemann, fa’apea Rev Toleafoa Larry Leatuavao Tupai Lavea ma Ps Mikaele Bureta. O le afioga i le aloalii ia Fepuleai Semi Fepuleai sa tootooalii ina ua usi le sivaloa ma le fa’atau paia a le usuga a Tumua ma Pule e fai ma sui o le paia o Samoa i Aukilani e fa’afeiloai ma fa’amalo i nai tuaa ua fa’amanuiaina i le sitiseni ma ua alala nei i Niu Sila. O malo fa’apito o lenei fa’atasiga o le susuga i le alii faipule ia MP Teanau Tuiono e ona le pili taufa’aofi lea sa toe laga ai i le Palemene o Niu Sila le mataupu e toe fa’afoi mai le sistiseni Niu Sila o tagata Samoa sa puleesea e le malo o Niu Sila i le 1982. Maitauina le sagisagi fiafia o nai tuaa ina ua feiloai i le alii faipule. Sa fa’apea foi ona auai i lenei fa’atasiga le tamaitai so’ataitai o le vaega fa’aupufai o le Green Party sa finauina lenei mataupu. FALIU LE LA: Fa’aalia e le CEO o le ASA Foundation le afioga ia Tofilau Esther Tevaga, ua silia ma le 300 tama ma tina matutua o le sitiseni ua resitala mai i le FALIU LE LA. O le FALIU LE LA o le fa’atofalaiga a le ASA Foundation i Manurewa e fesoasoani i nai matua matutua ia maua fa’amanuiaga uma a Niu Sila. O le ala lea o le aapa atu o le ASA Foundation i nai tuaa ua pale mai i le sitiseni ina ua logo le mapu a Tai’i i le taumafaiga e talosaga a latou penifiti, fa’apea siaki i le falemai, ma itu tau fale o le malo. O se tasi o lu’i mo nai tuaa matutua i lenei atunuu o le fiu lea i le nofo fale. I nisi aiga o le leai lea o se isi e talanoa iai pe a oo ina o le fanau e faigaluega ma aoga. O le autu lea o le fa’atasiga a le FALIU LE LA mo tagata matutua o loo alala ma papaaao i Manurewa, lea ua fa’aopopo iai ma nai matua ua manuia i le Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982. O le Aso Gafua muamua o masina taitasi e fai ai lenei fa’atasiga i le Manurewa Sports Centre, Mountfort Park, 180 Weymouth Road, Manurewa mai le 10am – 1pm. O le fa’atasiga o le masina fou o le Aso Gafua, 4 Aukuso ma e tatala le avanoa soo se tagata matua e fia auai. Mo aiga e iai tuaa, fa’afesootai mai ASA Foundation i le imeli [email protected]
EMERGENCY BENEFIT
E iai aiga ua fesoʻotaʻi mai ona ua le manuia le talosaga a nai o latou mātua mo se tupe maua mai le malo. O lenei fa’asoa o se fesoasoani i le talosagaina o le Emergency Benefit mai le WINZ:
- O le Emergency Benefit o le fesoasoani tau tupe lea e agava’a iai nai o tatou mātua ua fa’amanuiaina i le sitiseni NZ. O le toʻatele o mātua ua siitia mai e nonofo i NZ ua maua a latou Emergency Benefit ($380 – $460 NZD i le vaiaso e aofia ma tupe fa’aopoopo mo le accommodation supplement ma le disability allowance).
- Peitaʻi e iai nisi o talosaga ua le taliaina ona o loo talosaga mo le Super Annuation poo le penisiona. E le agavaʻa mātua lea fa’atoa maua sitiseni i le penisiona a NZ ona e moomia le atoa o le 10 tausaga e te alala ai i Niu Sila fa’atoa agavaʻa lea. O le ala lea ua na o le Emergency Benefit e mafai ona talosagaina.
- O nisi o talosaga e mafua ona le taliaina ona a fesiligia e le WINZ poo le a le mafuaʻaga o le malaga mai i Niu Sila, ua tali iai o loo sau si ona tuaa e tafao ona toe foi lea i Samoa. O le seleni lenei e agava’a iai le tagata sitiseni NZ e nofo mau i NZ, ae le o se seleni mo tagata tafafao mai i Niu Sila tusa lava pe iai se sitiseni.
- O fa’amatalaga uma mo le talosagaina ma aiaiga o le Emergency Benefit o loo maua uma i le upega tafailagi o loo fa’apipii atu: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/emergency-benefit.html
- Afai e fia maua se fesoasoani poo ua iai se fa’aletonu ua tulaʻi mai i le talosaga a lou tuaa mo sana Emergency Benefit, ona fa’afeso’otaʻi mai lea o Teleiai i le imeli [email protected]
