Treaty of Friendship

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:

• (a) When requested, act as the channel for communications between the Government of Western Samoa and other Governments and international organisations;
• (b) When requested, and where permissible and appropriate, undertake the representation of the Government of Western Samoa at any international conference at which Western Samoa is entitled to be represented;
• (c) When requested, supply Western Samoa with information concerning international affairs;
• (d) Undertake the diplomatic protection of nationals of Western Samoa in other countries and perform consular functions on their behalf.

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.

Bilateral relations

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.^[7]

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.^[11] 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.^[7]

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]