The Samoa New Zealand Policing Programme has introduced Inspector Semisi James, also known as Jimmy Patea, as the Team Leader of the New Zealand Police advisory group working with the Samoa Police Service.
The four year policing programme was announced during Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to Samoa in March 2026. It was developed at the request of the Government of Samoa and the Samoa Police Service.
The programme is a bilateral partnership between Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services, New Zealand Police, and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It is designed to strengthen Samoa’s policing capability through mentoring, coaching, training, and joint problem solving.
New Zealand Police personnel serving under the programme will work in an advisory role only. They will not exercise operational or investigative authority in Samoa.
The New Zealand High Commission in Apia said the programme reflects a shared commitment between Samoa and New Zealand to build resilient, community focused policing. The work is grounded in partnership and a “by Pacific, for Pacific” approach.
Inspector Patea will lead a five member New Zealand Police advisory team embedded with the Samoa Police Service. The team will work alongside local counterparts to support strategic leadership, core policing functions, and organisational systems.
Inspector Patea was born in Samoa and raised in New Zealand. He is expected to return to Samoa next month to begin his role under the programme.
He brings more than 28 years of policing experience with New Zealand Police. His background includes frontline policing, complex investigations, family harm and child protection, serious crime work, and national level operational roles.
His experience also includes leading investigative teams within the Criminal Investigation Branch and holding national leadership roles focused on prevention, system improvement, and community partnership.
Inspector Patea currently serves as a Professional Conduct Manager at Police National Headquarters, where he works on integrity, accountability, and organisational standards.
The High Commission said his work has centred on collaboration, cultural understanding, and long term capability building, values it said align with the shared vision of Samoa and New Zealand under the policing programme.
This article is based on information shared by the New Zealand High Commission in Samoa.