Samoa e, le atunuu pele, ole a taoto ia I lagotonu ou paia sauoo ma
ou mamalu aua ole vaa ua mae’a ona faatute’e ma paelago. Ole a
fagatonu le malama ma vili le ifi a Maina e tusa ole ‘auga o lenei
sauniga ma le faatauaina ole asō. Ole aso muamua o Aukuso 1962,
na sainia ai I Vailima le maliega faapitoa e faavae ai le mafutaga
vava lalata faaleuo a malo e lua talu ona avea Samoa ma malo
Tutoatasi. Ole asō ua tatou faatasi ai ma le afioga ile Palemia o Niu
Sila ma lana aumalaga tatou te faamanatuina faatasi le 60 tausaga
o lenei pine faamau.

Rev Nuuausala Siaosi
Afioga ile Ao Mamalu ole Malo ma le Masiofo
Rt Hon Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Cabinet Ministers of Aotearoa NZ and Samoa
Speaker of the House
Members of Parliament of Aotearoa NZ and Samoa
Chief Justice and Members Judiciary
Former Leaders of the Government of Samoa
Distinguished guests & Dignitaries
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a pleasure for me to extend a warm welcome to the Prime
Minister of NZ, Rt Hon Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and your
delegation. Talofa lava. Thank you for accepting our invitation to

join us in Samoa to celebrate the 60 th anniversary of the Treaty of
friendship which is an integral part of the year long celebration of
our 60 th Independence anniversary. We are happy to note the
cultural and political diversity of your delegation which adds
richness to our experiences and what we share as peoples of the
Blue Pacific and stewards of our oceanic heritage. No doubt this
visit will carve permanence in our minds on the significance of the
Treaty of Friendship. I wish to also acknowledge with appreciation
the opportunity provided to me early on in my journey as prime
minister for my first official visit to New Zealand. We are especially
pleased to note that this occasion will further foster the
strengthening of people to people links and connections between
our two countries.
Over the last 2 years we have not been able to visit families
and the wider diaspora in Aotearoa due to the pandemic even
though technological advances and information technology had
cushioned the tyranny of isolation and separation.
Earlier on today, on August 1 we had celebrated the opening
of our borders to the world marked by the arrival of 2 flights from
different destinations. Our journey through COVID has been
facilitated and generously supported by the Government of New
Zealand and its people and through many different avenues. I am
pleased to note that we have been vigilant in capturing all these
opportunities to build our resilience and taking Samoa to where it
is at and subsequently making the decision to opening our borders
today.
We take this opportunity to pay our respects and express
condolences to all families of New Zealand and of Samoa who
have lost loved ones to COVID 19. We are aware that many of those

in NZ were of Polynesian heritage including Samoans. We know
that we have not been the most popular destination with our
stringent conditions but we believe we have done our utmost to
ensure that our people and those who choose to travel to Samoa
are safe and secure. Prime Minister you can be assured that we will
seek your help should there be a turn of events in our COVID 19
status in the future.
On our 60 year friendship, it is a privilege to be part of the
celebration of this milestone today. Personally, I feel an emotional
twinge as this will be the second time this year that history has
repeated itself. On the first of June, 60 years later I had the honour
to raise the flag of Independence repeating the honour accorded to
my father the first Prime minister of Samoa Afioga Mataafa
Faumuina Mulinuu II in 1962. Today I am again at the helm of the
celebration of the 60 years anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship,
after the original signing in 1962 by Afioga Mataafa Faumuina
Mulinuu II and HE Mr J.B Wright the then High Commissioner of
New Zealand to Samoa.
For my generation the memories of the Treaty signing remain on
archival records and photographs.. We pay tribute to our former
leaders some of whom are with us here tonight who may have been
part of the original signing.
The Treaty of Friendship marks the unique relationship between
our two countries. I am told this is the only treaty of its kind
between NZ and another country.
The Treaty is representative of the unique relationship
between Samoa and Aotearoa New Zealand. The Agreement
affirms that it is between two governments of “sovereign and equal
status” – the relationship between our two governments is founded

on respect for human rights and “the purpose and principles of the
Charter of the United Nations” and that there is recognition that the
close relationship between our two independent states is based on
“friendship, confidence, and a mutual endeavour to obtain for their
peoples fuller opportunities for social progress”.
Both our governments commit to maintain and strengthen
“the bonds of amity and goodwill” that have existed between them,
and to “provide for continued cooperation.” On behalf of the
Government of the independent state of Samoa I wish to reaffirm
Samoa’s commitment to this Treaty.

We have a shared history. On reflection of our journey in the last
sixty years. I wish to pay tribute to our ancestors and forbears who
had built a sound foundation for a bilateral partnership that is
durable, tolerant complimentary and understanding and a
relationship that is mutually respectful, honest and trusting

We are proud of the contribution Samoans make to all aspects of
envelopment in New Zealand-we also take note of the negative
aspects and do our best to deliver counsel through familial links
and societal connections
Relationships depend on building and rebuilding. We also
recognize that we can disagree. But as is the philosophy that is
pervasive in the Pacific – there is always space to talanoa and keep
dialogues open. The 60 year friendship has withstood the test of
time and constant debate. We are committed to being a friend and
an equal partner and much less a dependent.

In the course of our journey there have been champions of
the Treaty. We are proud to continue the inspiration and drive of
these pathfinders towards an enduring partnership.
In closing, the diplomatic bonds between Aotearoa New Zealand
and Samoa continue to evolve but the Treaty of Friendship has
endured as the compass of our bilateral relationship and has kept
us on course and adherence to principles and values.
Our enduring friendship and continuing shared history will be
defined by how our respective peoples interact, contribute and
engage in either society. After all we are products of our histories.
I am confident that our unique friendship will continue to expand
and deepen. And we recommit ourselves to walk together on
whatever paths the future may hold for us both as friends and
neighbours in our home in the Blue Pacific continent.

Ladies and Gentlemen
Please join with me to propose a toast. “To the Treaty of
Friendship – may this cooperation continue to pave our paths into
the future.

Soifua ma ia manuia