Prime Minister New Zealand Jacinda Ardern has important visit to Samoa ahead of a special commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Aotearoa New Zealand and Samoa. In 1962, Samoa’s first prime minister and father of Fiame Naomi’s was signed the Treaty of Friendship.
Among those who greeted Kiwi PM were Samoan Deputy PM Tuala Tevaga Ponifasio and High Commissioner Dr Trevor Matheson.
The last time Jacinda Ardern was in Samoa a few years ago, she was greeted by then Deputy PM Fiame Naomi Mata’afa – who has since been promoted to the top job after a new government was voted in last year.
As part of the visit she met with Samoa’s Head of State, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, and Prime Minister Fiam? Naomi Mata?afa where we discussed things like new climate partnership.
Arden said, the treaty of friendship isn’t just about the Government of the day, it’s about all our people – so it was fantastic to be joined by party leaders from almost every party in the New Zealand Parliament as we met with the Samoan Cabinet today.
Arden added we also had the privilege of having iwi leaders, church, business and community representatives with us too.
She was asked to describe the visit in one word. She chose “warm and productive” because one word wasn’t enough! She thanks to everyone who made the visit such a success.
Before leaving the Whenuapai Airbase in Auckland, it was revealed that a special meaalofa gift would be presented to the Samoan PM as part of the visit.
The gift is a series of photographs, including some of Fiame’s late father Fiame Mata’afa Faumuina Mulinu’u, taken 60 years ago when Samoa achieved political independence in 1962.
