One amendment added to citizenship bill

A bill, that aims to restore the right to New Zealand citizenship for some Sāmoans, has passed the Committee of the Whole House with one amendment made.

Green MP Teanau Tuiono's Restoring Citizenship Removed by Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 Bill, passed its second reading last month, supported by all parties.

Green MP Teanau Tuiono. Photo/Parliament TV

On Wednesday, the bill was presented to the Committee of the Whole House.

This is where Parliament forms itself into a committee and every member of the House is allowed to debate the bill in greater detail before its third reading.

This stage sees a bill undergo the most detailed scrutiny with the ability to add or change provisions based on input from various MPs and political parties.

NZ First MP, Andy Foster, has proposed an amendment to ensure successful applicants are refunded for the application fees.

NZ First MP and former Wellington mayor, Andy Foster. Photo/Andy Foster Facebook

The standard application fee for New Zealand citizenship is $470.20 for adults aged 16 and over.

NZ First’s amendment was the only one passed.

Two more amendments by Tuiono are aimed at expanding eligibility to descendants of Sāmoans, born before 1 January 1962, and waiving application fees entirely, were voted down by the government.

Labour and Te Pāti Māori have supported the changes, recognising the historical and ongoing impacts of the original Citizenship (Western Sāmoa) Act 1982.

The bill now awaits its third reading, likely in the coming weeks, where it will face a final vote in the House.

This stage will determine if the bill will become law, officially enabling some Sāmoans meeting the criteria to apply for New Zealand citizenship with the added benefit of an application fee refund.