Samoa archbishop with NZ ties to head nation’s honours panel

The Samoan government invited Archbishop Mosese Tui SDB to head the panel and the archbishop accepted.

Samoa’s 64th Independence celebrations in June will be held over three days and will feature traditional sporting events and other activities.

Archbishop Tui was parish priest of St Paul’s Parish in Massey in West Auckland when Pope Francis named him as the new Archbishop of Samoa-Apia in 2024.

Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt said that the celebrations later this year will underscore the deep meaning and spirit of independence. The events will celebrate and honour the forefathers’ sacrifice that today’s generations are enjoying as a free country.

Western Samoa gained independence from New Zealand through the Western Samoa Act passed by the New Zealand Parliament on November 24, 1961.

During WWI, New Zealand troops took control of Western Samoa, which had been under German control. From 1920, Western Samoa was led by an administrator, appointed by New Zealand’s Governor-General, and a legislative council. There were no Samoan members of this council until 1928.

From the 1930s, the people of Samoa were slowly given back more governance of their country. Following WWII, pressure grew for Western Samoa to be granted independence.

The Western Samoa Act was passed by New Zealand Parliament and came into effect on January 1, 1962. Western Samoa became “a fully independent sovereign State under the name of the Independent State of Western Samoa having a constitution which has been adopted by the people of Western Samoa”.

FULL STORY

Samoa Observer | Archbishop leads honours panel (By Marieta Heidi Ilalio/Samoa Observer – subscription required)

Fr Mosese Tui appointed Archbishop of Samoa-Apia (NZCBC)

Cabinet endorses three days Independence celebrations in June (Talamua Online)

Celebrating 60 years of independence for Western Samoa (NZ Parliament)