Samoan Citizenship Bill Passes it's Second Reading with Unanimous Support

The Bill to restore New Zealand citizenship for a group of Samoans impacted by the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 passed its second reading in Parliament on Thursday morning.

The National Party, which did not support the Bill during its first reading, changed its stance, agreeing to back it with the provision that only those born between 1924 and 1949 would be offered citizenship, excluding their descendants.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon emphasized the need for clear eligibility, noting, “That core group is about three and a half thousand people, aged 76 to 100.” Former National MP Arthur Anae criticized the select committee’s changes as insufficient, calling them “window dressing” and “a Christmas box with nothing inside it.” The vote came as Luxon prepared to travel to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit, amid concerns about the environmental impact of the HMNZS Manawanui sinking off Upolu’s southern coast. Addressing ongoing frustrations with visa access, New Zealand Immigration announced it will expand services in Apia next month, increasing from a one-hour window to full-day service for visa assessments.

9-October-2024

The Green Party has welcomed news that MP Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill has moved forward with unanimous support from the select committee. 

“This is a significant step forward and a monumental milestone for Pasifika justice in Aotearoa,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Pacific Peoples, Teanau Tuiono.

Committee members were unanimous in supporting the primary intent of the Bill to restore citizenship to Samoans who had it taken from them by the New Zealand Government in 1982. 

“This endorsement from the select committee is an encouraging sign for the journey that lies ahead in securing justice for our aiga Samoa. I want to acknowledge the community who came to the select committee to share their stories in both powerful and compelling ways. 

“Earlier that year, the Privy Council found that because those born in Western Samoa were treated by New Zealand law as ‘natural-born British subjects’, they were entitled to New Zealand citizenship when it was first created in 1948. But that right was then taken away from them.

“For those people still alive today who were New Zealand citizens and had this right shamefully removed at the whim of a Government forty-two years ago, this is another big step towards justice.

“This is about righting a historic wrong for those born in Samoa who had their citizenship revoked under the 1982 Act, when they were rightly entitled to it,” Pacific Peoples spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni said.

She says that the successful second reading shows the importance of having Pacific representation across political parties and the way issues pertaining to our communities can be prioritised. 

“We may be Pacific MPs from different parties, but on issues like this, we work together for the good of our people.We know how much this means to our Samoan aiga and we’re certainly standing with them - it is the right thing to do and honours the spirit of the Government’s formal Dawn Raids apology,” Carmel Sepuloni said.