PRIME MINISTER LAAULIALEMALIETOA MEETS NZ MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS RT HON VAOVASAMANAIA

SAMOA, October 19 - Meeting between the Prime Minister Hon Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt and NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters.

19 October 2025 – Samoa Consulate General Mangere Auckland

[Press Release]-The bilateral meeting was requested by Rt Hon Winston Peters and organized by the Samoa High Commission in Wellington to utilize the opportunity of meeting with the Prime Minister Hon Laaulialemalietoa while in New Zealand.

The meeting focused on priority issues raised by Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa pertaining to the wellbeing of Samoan people in Samoa as well as the diaspora under the aegis of the Treaty of Friendship.

Emphasis was placed on the importance of the District Development Program to provide meaningful opportunities for the Samoan people to ensure ownership and determination of their sustainable development pathways.

Discussions pointed to ways to facilitate travel by way of easier and least cost visa processing for short term visitations, the vision for sustainable worker schemes and scope for benefits for Samoans now eligible for NZ citizenship.

Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa also requested the help of NZ through ways to curb drug trafficking at the borders and at entry points into the country, as well as enhanced capacity building for border control authorities.

A request was also raised to look at ways by which visiting medical experts schemes can provide treatment in country thus cutting down on costs for overseas medical treatment.

Acknowledgement was also made of the compensation funds provided for the Safata district as a result of the Manawanui sinking.

In response Rt Hon Winston Peters acknowledged the challenges faced by Samoa and indicated his further review of existing practices and identify areas where NZ can further assist bilaterally or through regional programs.

The meeting was attended by senior advisers to Minister Peters Mr Michael Appleton and Mr Jon Johansson and Consul General Auckland Afemata Palusalue Lemalu and Vice Consul Dorothy Ah Ching.