New Zealand and Samoa have had close relations based on a treaty of friendship between the two countries since Samoa became independent in 1962. New Zealand administered Samoa under a League of Nations mandate then a United Nations trusteeship from 1920 to 1961. Both nations are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum.
See main article: Western Samoa Trust Territory. Initial contact between the people of New Zealand and Samoa began in the 1800s with the arrival of missionaries from the London Missionary Society who travelled to New Zealand and then to Samoa proselytising.[1] In December 1899, Western Samoa (comprising the islands of Upolu and Savai'i) became a German protectorate and was known as German Samoa (Eastern Samoa was administered by the United States). In August 1914, during World War I, an expeditionary force from New Zealand took control of German Samoa unopposed.[2] In 1919, the League of Nations granted New Zealand mandate to administer Western Samoa under a League of Nation mandate.[3] Between 1918 and 1919, inhabitants of Western Samoa became infected by a pneumonic influenza which killed 8,500 residents (approx. 22% of the total population).[4] This influenza led to increased desire for Samoans to obtain their independence.
See main article: Mau movement.
The Mau movement began with a non-violent protest movement that was led by the chiefs of Savaii who were also known as Pule. The Mau a Pule is the original Mau for Samoan independence. This Mau was led by the Chief from Safotulafai, Faasaleleaga on the big island of Savaii, Lauaki Namulauulu Mamoe. The Mau a Pule resulted in German governor Solf ordering the exile of the chiefs of Pule who all supported the Mau movement to Saipan. The leaders of the Mau a Pule agreed to be taken to Saipan in order to avoid bloodshed. After Germany lost World War I, the chiefs of Pule who were in Saipan were returned to Samoa. On the way home, Lauaki Namulauulu Mamoe died en route and was buried in Tarawa. His bones were later returned to Savaii where they now rest in Fogapoa.
By 1929, the Mau movement became well known in Western Samoa an increased their efforts for Samoan independence, led by Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III. On 28 December 1929, a peaceful demonstration assembled in the capital Apia. Soon afterwards, some of the demonstrators began to throw stones at the police nearby. At that moment, the police began to fire at the demonstrators killing 11 people, including Tupua Tamasese Lealofi. One police officer was also killed in the violence.[5] The day was to be known as Black Saturday.
In 1936, the Mau was recognised as a legitimate political organisation. They soon held majorities in both a newly elected Fono of Faipule and the legislative assembly.[6] Independence for Western Samoa was delayed due to the Great Depression and World War II. After the Second World War, the newly created United Nations led efforts in New Zealand to grant Samoa independence as part of the decolonization process. On 1 January 1962, Samoa obtained its independence from New Zealand, the first Pacific island country to achieve independence.[7] The Samoan independence celebration was attended by New Zealand Prime Minister Keith Holyoake.
In August 1962, a Treaty of Friendship (Feagaiga o Uō in Samoan) was signed between both nations. The treaty contains seven articles which are as follows:[8]
Article I: Relations between New Zealand and Western Samoa shall continue to be governed by a spirit of close friendship.
Article II: Where appropriate the two Governments shall consult each other on matters of mutual interest and concern.
Article III: Each Government shall ensure that citizens of the other living within its territory are, in accordance with the normal practice between friendly states, given equitable treatment and full legal protection and access to the Courts.
Article IV: The two Governments shall continue to work together to promote the welfare of the people of Western Samoa. In particular the Government of New Zealand will consider sympathetically requests from the Government of Western Samoa for technical, administrative and other assistance. In particular the Government of New Zealand will:
Article V: The Government of New Zealand shall, for as long as the Government of Western Samoa wishes, and in such manner as will in no way impair the right of the Government of Western Samoa to formulate its own foreign policies, afford assistance to the Government of Western Samoa in the conduct of its international relations.
Article VI: Either Government may at any time give to the other Government written notice of its desire to terminate the Agreement. In such case, the Agreement shall terminate upon the expiration of three months from the date on which the notice is received.
Article VII: The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature.
In 1982, the Privy Council granted citizenship to Western Samoan citizens born since 1924 when the nation was under New Zealand mandate. However, the New Zealand government did not accept the decision and instead granted New Zealand citizenship to Samoan citizens who were living in New Zealand on 14 September 1982. This occurred when a Samoan woman by the name of Falema‘i Lesa overstayed her visa in New Zealand and pressed her claim to be a New Zealand citizen. The Privy Council ruled that all Western Samoans born between 1924 and 1948 were British subjects and that in 1949 they and their descendants had become New Zealand citizens.[9]
There have been numerous official visits between leaders of both nations. In 2002, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark came to Samoa and officially apologised for New Zealand's treatment of Samoans during colonial times.[10] Samoa currently does not maintain its own military forces. New Zealand regularly patrols Samoan waters and airspace with the permission of the Samoan government.
In 2015, New Zealand provided $27 million NZ dollars to Samoa.[11] Much of New Zealand's aid to Samoa is to assist the tourism, energy, education, law and justice, and health programs. There are direct flights between both nations through the following airlines: Air New Zealand and Samoa Airways.
In March 2018 New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Foreign Minister Winston Peters led a Pacific Mission to Samoa. While in Samoa the Prime Minister met with the Samoan Prime Minister, other ministers and attended a number of climate change and disaster resilience related events. In May 2019, Samoan Deputy Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa visited New Zealand to attend and speak at the Just Transition Summit in New Plymouth and met with Prime Minister Ardern, Foreign Minister Peters, Minister Shaw, Minister Genter and members of the Pacific Caucus.
In mid-June 2022, Prime Minister Fiamē visited New Zealand to affirm bilateral relations and cooperation in the areas of climate change, COVID-19 and regional cooperation through the Pacific Islands Forum. Since Samoa had recently signed several bilateral economic and cultural agreements with China, Fiamē sought to reassure her New Zealand counterparts that Samoa was not seeking to pursue military cooperation with China.[12] [13] Fiamē also visited Samoan seasonal horticultural workers in the Hawke's Bay region during her New Zealand visit.[14]
In early August, Fiamē hosted a New Zealand delegation led by Ardern. During the trip, the two leaders discussed issues of concern to New Zealand - Samoan relations including climate change, economic resilience, COVID-19, health and Samoan seasonal workers. During the meeting, Ardern confirmed that New Zealand would contribute NZ$15 million in aid to support Samoa's climate change mitigation efforts and NZ$12m to rebuild Apia's historical Savalalo Market, which had been destroyed by a fire.[15] [16]
The first group of Samoan migrants to arrive to New Zealand was in 1874 due to the labor-pull that New Zealand offered. By the 1960s, New Zealand had an estimated Samoan population of 11,000. In 2015, the Samoan population (and those of Samoan origin) in New Zealand reached 182,731 people.[17] New Zealand is home to the second largest Samoan community outside of Samoa (after the United States).
In 2018, trade between New Zealand and Samoa totaled NZ$401 million. New Zealand exports to Samoa include: machinery and equipment; wood and articles of wood; industrial supplies; and foodstuffs. Samoan exports to New Zealand include: edible vegetables; beverages; edible fruits and nuts. In 2011, the Samoan government launched the New Zealand Samoa Trade and Investment Commission to facilitate and increase the flow of trade between both nations.
There are direct flights between both nations with Air New Zealand.