Will's Word: Citizenship bill should go further to bring 'true justice'

This is the transcript from Will's Word on 25 October, 2024:

Now it’s time for Will’s Word…

The recent passing of a historic bill in Parliament to restore New Zealand citizenship for people born in Western Samoa between 1924 and 1949 is a fantastic result - especially given it was supported by all parties, including National.

This is a pretty significant step toward healing the longstanding injustice caused by this racist Muldoon era law that was implemented back in 1982.
And while the bill is a positive development and I don't want to diminish its significance - it still has serious shortcomings.

One major issue is the pension provision, which requires affected individuals to wait another ten years before they can receive benefits. For many in this ageing group, ten years may be too long, and some may not live to see these benefits come through.

The delay reveals a lack of immediate support for those impacted doesn't it?

One would naturally assume we’d speed up access to pensions and other essential services, ensuring that these individuals can truly benefit from their restored citizenship in a timely manner.

While the bill marks a significant step toward righting past wrongs, we need to keep pushing for solutions that meet the urgent needs of the Samoan community.

True justice goes beyond acknowledgment; we need to see tangible results for those that were wrongly impacted back in the 80s.