The new mandate to apply for a visitor’s visa to New Zealand online is not sitting well with the leader of the Human Rights Protection Party, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi.
“The Friendship Treaty of 1962 with New Zealand is NOT an agreement,” said the former Prime Minister in a letter to the editor, sent to Radio Polynesia.
He gave an example and cited the World Climate Change Conference in 2015, outlining the difference between a treaty and an agreement.
“There was uncertainty whether an Agreement would ever be reached on measures to stop climate change which was recognized then as the worst disaster facing the whole world.
“The single most controversial issue was to agree to limit the World Temperature rise either to 1.5 degrees celcius, favoured by the small island countries of the world, or at least 2 degrees celcius preferred by the Developed Nations.
“In the end a compromised solution was reached. Adopt the limit of 1.5 degree rise in temperature by 2100 to avoid the sea level rise, provided the accord should be an agreement and NOT a Treaty. This was the agreement Samoa also signed in Paris in 2015.”
He then pointed to the 1962 friendship document to govern the post-independent nation relations with New Zealand as a treaty, not an agreement.
“Tonga, Fiji, and other islands formerly under the UK had special relationships dating from the colonial era. “Today outward migration flows from Samoa are more towards Aotearoa, the reason why voters of Samoan roots outnumber other islanders in New Zealand.
“And we Samoans are extremely jealous of this special, special Treaty relationship. “When, through policy, actions, and pronouncements from the New Zealand government seem to forget the special relationships that we Samoans always remember, we begin to question why.
“We now take over 3 weeks to get a visa to New Zealand and everyone must now apply online and pay by credit card.
“Over 99.99 percent of our people do not have a credit card nor even know how to ask on line. And who suffered? The relatives in Kiwiland who foot the bill, pay income taxes and VAGST and vote in General Elections for their Government of, for and by the people.”
Tuilaepa also cited the deportation back to Samoa of those who committed serious crimes in New Zealand, the same thing Australia is being criticized for by the Prime Minister of New Zealand.
“This is outrageous. We have been taught well by our Kiwi teachers that honour, dignity and respect of a leader of a Nation lie in the observation of the written word.”
