Internal Affairs deputy chief executive Maria Robertson confirmed the department received 154 applications for citizenship, 71 of them from Samoa. Photo: 123rf
The New Zealand Internal Affairs Department has approved 49 applications for citizenship for Samoans under the Citizenship (Western Samoa) (Restoration) Amendment Act.
The law, which was passed unanimously in Parliament last month, helps restore a pathway to citizenship for 3500 Samoans whose citizenship was stripped away in 1982.
One application was declined as the applicant did not meet the criteria. Photo: VNP/Louis Collins
Internal Affairs deputy chief executive Maria Robertson confirmed the department received 154 applications, 71 of them from Samoa.
"Forty-nine applications have been approved and those applicants have received, or are in the process of receiving, a full refund of the application fee," she said.
The department expects to receive 110 more applications from the New Zealand High Commission in Samoa this week.
Robertson said one application was declined as the applicant did not meet the criteria.
"Along with changes to our processing systems, developing application forms and guidance in English and Samoan, we worked with our MFAT colleagues to get the High Commission in Apia ready.
"One of our team has been in Apia for two weeks assisting with enquiries and applications."
She said the High Commission had an initial high number of inquiries, with over 500 people coming to the office on 26 November.
"While this has decreased, the High Commission continues to have people coming to their offices each day to get and lodge application forms," she said.
Since the bill became law, the office has received a significant number of enquiries with 777 calls and emails regarding the Act received in the past four weeks and almost 2900 application forms downloaded.
The department will not be processing applications between 23 December and 3 January, Robertson added.