Over 800 Sāmoans granted New Zealand citizenship

The Minister for Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden, has expressed her satisfaction after over 800 Sāmoans were granted New Zealand citizenship in three months.

She highlighted the significance of obtaining citizenship.

“It’s pleasing to see that people are taking up the opportunity to regain New Zealand citizenship and that the Department of Internal Affairs is promptly processing these applications,” van Velden says.

The development follows Green MP Teanau Tuiono’s member’s bill to restore the right to New Zealand citizenship for certain Sāmoans born in Western Sāmoa between 13 May 1924 and 1 January 1949.

These individuals were affected by the Citizenship [Westers Sāmoa] Act 1982, which revoked their right to New Zealand citizenship.

While Tuiono expressed great delight for the families recently granted citizenship, he also called for New Zealand to do more about its role in the Pacific region.

“If we say that we are part of a family of Pacific nations, well, how about visa waiver access?

“We're opening up, allowing other countries from the other side of the planet just to walk in here without any of those connections.

“And yet people just right next door have to jump through ridiculous amounts of hurdles.”

Minister for Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden. Photo/Brooke van Velden Instagram

Tapaau Lau’ese, who recently regained her citizenship through this legislation, has waited almost 50 years for her rights to be restored.

She has children living in New Zealand but faced travel restrictions due to documentation issues.

This year marks her 90th birthday, and she has chosen to remain in Sāmoa.

Lau’ese’s brother, Tafafuna’i Tasi Lau’ese, believes the reversal of citizenship should have happened much sooner.

Former National MP Anae Arthur Anae shared similar concerns and criticised the bill for its limited scope.

Tapaau Lau'ese, centre, and brother Tafafuna'i, right, with family shortly after receiving her NZ passport and citizenship. Photo/Tafafuna'i Tasi Lau'ese Facebook

While he appreciates New Zealand’s acknowledgement of past injustices, Anae argues that the bill does not fully address the harm caused by the Citizenship (Western Sāmoan) Act 1982.

Anae says that before the bill’s final reading last year, Government parties voted against allowing the heirs of those directly affected by the 1982 Act to be eligible for New Zealand citizenship.

“The Privy Council’s decision was clear. Those born between 1924 and 1949 and their heirs were New Zealand citizens,” Anae says.

“The Government’s current approach ignores that and limits justice to just one generation.”

He also criticises the denial of New Zealand pensions to elderly Sāmoans who meet the citizenship criteria but do not satisfy the 10-year residency requirement.

Watch Anae Arthur Anae's full interview below.

“How long do you think someone who is 76 years old will live to meet that requirement?

“By refusing them the pension, we’re imposing yet another barrier on people who have already been wronged.”

Tuiono called for New Zealand to “make its mind up” amid growing geopolitical tensions in the region.

“If you think of the geopolitical tensions that are playing out right now within the Pacific, we have the US dismantling USAID.

“And so the way that would play out within the Pacific around making sure that the importance of development and supported development, particularly within the context of climate change, is maintained.

Green MP Teanau Tuiono speaking at the bill's final reading last November. Photo/Ala Vailala

“The United States don’t seem to care about the planet, and they're leaving the region open to China, who, unlike the US, are a lot more organised.”

He emphasised the need for civic countries to continue caring for their islands and people while maintaining strong relationships among them.

“But Aotearoa New Zealand, I think, has to make its mind up about what it is, who we are.

“And for me, it has always been about the importance of those relationships with the islands.

“We are our best selves when we respect those relationships between the islands, regardless of the geopolitical giants that come into our region.”