In line with Samoa and New Zealand’s 60 years since the signing of the treaty of friendship, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will arrive in the Country on 1 August 2022 for a one-day trip.
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa confirmed said during the press conference yesterday. This would be Adern’s first visit to Samoa during the FAST administration.
Fiame said there will be an official welcoming ava ceremony to be held at Vailima and host dinner immediately afterwards.
The next day Ardern will meet with the Head of State his Highness Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II. “A Guard of Honour will be conducted in honour of the treaty of friendship, where the Samoa and New Zealand flags will be raised.”
Ardern will be accompanied by members of her Cabinet and will meet with local Cabinet Ministers and a press conference will be held afterwards.
Samoa and New Zealand developed a unique relationship dating back to 1914 following World War 1, when Samoa was administered by New Zealand through a United Nations Trusteeship mandate, up until independence in 1962, says the New Zealand Government website.
Diplomatic ties were established in 1962, with the Treaty of Friendship subsequently being signed the same year. Important factors that have seen the unique relationship between New Zealand and Samoa endure and strengthen over the years include the flourishing of a Samoan ethnic population in New Zealand.
The prevalence of Samoans at the national parliamentary level has helped to secure an avenue in which the interests of Samoans in New Zealand can be heard and implemented.
