Hosted by the New Zealand High Commissioner, H.E Si’alei Van Toor – Friday, 9 February, 2023 at 6.30pm, Taumeasina Island Resort
Reverend Siaosi Salesulu
Lau Afioga, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II and Masiofo
Member of the Council of Deputies
The Rt Hon Winston Peters and your delegation
Hon Ministers of Cabinet,
Chief Justice and Members of the Judiciary,
Hon Speaker,
Hon Leader of the Opposition
Members of Parliament,
High Commissioner of New Zealand, Your Excellency, Si’alei Van Toor
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure for me to join you all this evening to celebrate Waitangi Day. Allow me on behalf of the Government and People of Samoa to congratulate the Government and People of New Zealand on the celebration of your national day, the 184th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Tonight, I especially acknowledge the presence of the Rt Hon Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Aotearoa New Zealand and your delegation including Hon Dr Shane Reti, Minister of Health. Your visit is an opportunity for Samoa and New Zealand to reconnect and renew relations, exchange perspectives given the outcomes of your recent elections, discuss existing and potential future collaboration between our two countries as well as share views on emerging regional issues. Your presence here and celebration of Waitangi Day in Samoa draws us closer to the reality and significance of Waitangi Day,
This is also a fitting opportunity to warmly welcome the new High Commissioner of New Zealand, Her Excellency Si’alei Van Toor who recently arrived and presented her Letter of Credence to the Head of State on 6th February, the anniversary of Waitangi Day. Her Excellency Si’alei Van Toor I believe is the first High Commissioner of Samoan descent to be posted in Apia. Excellency, this is your first of many official functions during your post in Samoa and I wish you well in your tenure in Samoa.
Samoa and New Zealand celebrates this year the 62nd anniversary since the signing of our “Treaty of Friendship”, the cornerstone of our close bilateral relations. Then, our two countries expressed a desire to “maintain and strengthen the bonds of amity and goodwill” and “to provide for continued cooperation”. We continue to live up to the promise of this special treaty, which is most evident in our people to people connections. With every anniversary, we wonder if there is room to consider facilitation of the temporary movement of people to visit families, engage in business development and spend holidays in NZ as tourists?
The ongoing seasonal workers scheme continues to improve livelihoods of many Samoan families while contributing to economic growth in New Zealand. We are focusing our attention on a considered review of all the schemes Samoa is engaged in given the emerging impacts on our service industries and the growing human resource constraints; though mindful also of peoples’ rights to choose. We need to determine how we can adjust our approach so that we can remain on a sustainable development path while harnesing the benefits of these opportunities.
The close relations between our two countries continue through cooperation in the areas of health, education, tourism, sports, private sector development and budget support under the Joint Policy Action Matrix.. It is important to revisit the partnerships we have committed to and ensure they remain mutually beneficial. In this connection, Samoa is keen to see the early signing of the Samoa NZ Partnership Agreement for the new financial triennium 2024-2027. We do not expect deviation from the existing priority areas of cooperation, although we should ensure that actual resourcing is directed to activities that are at a state of readiness for implementation .
In a similar vein we are indeed appreciative of the signing of the Climate Finance Partnership which places us in good stead to implement our prioritised adaptation and mitigation initiatives including some of the key outcomes of CoP 28.
Likewise, we welcome the generous support by the Government of New Zealand and our other development partners towards our preparations to hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Governments meeting in October and we look forward to the partnerships to deliver a successful and truly Pacific CHOGM.
Excellency, before closing I would also like to wish your departing staff, Mr Reece Fitzgibbon a safe journey home at the conclusion of his term as Second Secretary. I wish you well in your future endeavours.
Deputy Prime Minister Mr Peters, Minister of Health Dr Reti and your delegation, thank you for visiting Samoa and celebrating with us Waitangi Day. I wish you all safe travels
Ladies and Gentlemen, I now respectfully invite you all to join me in proposing a toast:
“To the success and prosperity of the Government and the People of New Zealand. Happy Waitangi Day!
la Manuia!
