Sāmoa Citizenship Bill passed

After unanimous support, a bill to restore the right to New Zealand citizenship for certain Sāmoans passed its third and final reading in the House on Wednesday.

In August of last year, Green MP Teanau Tuiono’s member’s bill, Restoring Citizenship Removed by Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982, was selected from the biscuit tin.

Tuiono acknowledged the rarity of an opposition MP's bill being picked and progressing as far as it did.

The bill initially passed its first reading in April, garnering support from all parties except National.

National MP Cameron Brewer confirmed the party's support for the bill during the third reading on Wednesday. Still, he defended the initial (Western Samoa) Act 1982, passed unanimously by all parties in the House at the time, including Labour, led by Bill Rowling.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins emphasised the bill's role in correcting a historical injustice and acknowledged activist Falema'i Lesa's oral submission, which moved some members of the Select Committee to tears.

Te Pati Maori co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer confirms their support for the bill. Photo/Ala Vailala

"Today is about recognising thousands of Sāmoans who've always had the right to New Zealand citizenship," he said.

"It is a powerful thing to have strong Pacific representation in Parliament.

"It [Western Sāmoa Act 1982] should have never happened. You have a right to participate in this country at its fullest."

ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar also confirmed the party's support for the bill.

"To see this bill come to this stage is exciting. This bill is about reclaiming citizenship for the ACT Party. It is about fairness. It is about equality.

"I would like to tell the [Sāmoan] community to keep your voice strong... Thank you for giving us the opportunity to right this historical wrong."

Tim Costley (second from left) acknowledges that the bill passed under Luxon's government. Photo/Ala Vailala

About 25,000 submissions were received from New Zealand and Sāmoa during the select committee process.

The bill successfully passed its second reading in late October with support from all parties.

However, some concerns were raised regarding the amendments to the bill.

Former National MP Anae Arthur Anae described it as a “gold box with nothing in it”.

The bill passed through the Committee of the Whole House earlier this month, where members of Parliament debated it in greater detail.

It passed with one amendment from NZ First, which required that successful applicants be refunded their application fees.

NZ First MP Andy Foster's amendment was the only one that passed. Photo/Ala Vailala

This was the only amendment approved; the government rejected two additional amendments proposed by Tuiono - one aimed at expanding eligibility to descendants of Sāmoans born before 1 January 1962 and the other seeking to waive application fees entirely.

Speaking at the third reading on Wednesday, NZ First MP Andy Foster explained New Zealand's brutal colonial history in Samoa.

"It's not a history New Zealand is proud of. You shouldn't have to pay for what was already yours."

He also claimed that NZ First would look at different pathways for applicants to get Superannuation, one of the major concerns in many submissions.

Following its third reading, the bill will be signed by the Governor-General and become an Act.

Citizenship applications from various locations, including New Zealand, Samoa, London and Australia, can begin to be submitted by next week.