New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is in Samoa with a parliamentary and community delegation celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Aotearoa and Samoa.
Prime Minister of Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern cut a cake to mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship Photo: Supplied / Jonson Raela
The treaty was signed in 1962 two months after Samoa became the first Pacific island to achieve independence. The delegation is also the first international arrival into the country which opened its borders this week.
Ardern said the trip was an extension of Samoa's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa's visit to New Zealand in June.
A veteran broadcaster who is part of New Zealand's delegation to Samoa for the anniversary said it was a milestone all Samoans living in New Zealand should be proud of.
Radio Samoa's Tavai Meni said it was a great feeling to be back in Samoa after so long.
He was honoured to be on such a significant trip marking the treaty's legacy, which he said was invaluable.
"It's relevant in a way that we are Samoans living in New Zealand, and New Zealand is supporting Samoa in so many ways, it is always good to see two countries supporting each other."
On arrival, the delegation was met by Samoan government officials and later welcomed in a traditional ava ceremony.
In her address at the ceremony, Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said history had repeated itself as she marked the 60th anniversary of Samoa's independence and friendship with New Zealand. Her father had been Samoa's first prime minister when it gained independence in 1962 and when the Treaty was signed.
There was a unique relationship between the two countries as Samoa is the only country New Zealand shares a friendship treaty with, Fiame said.
The memory of the original signing would remain in archival records but for her it would always be personal.
"I feel an emotional twinge as this will be the second time this year that history has repeated itself. On the first of June sixty years later I had the honour of raising the flag for independence repeating the honour accorded to my father."
The New Zealand delegation is welcomed to Samoa. Photo: RNZ / Susana Suisuiki
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the relationship between Samoa and New Zealand hadn't been so friendly in the past.
Speaking to media at the Robert Louis Stevenson museum, Ardern said while the Treaty of Friendship was an important occassion to mark, New Zealand had had to apologise for its treatment towards Samoa.
Over a century ago, Samoa experienced its most disastrous epidemic with the Spanish influenza brought over by a steamboat from Auckland - leading to an official apology by former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark in 2002.
Another historic apology was delivered last year for the 1970s Dawn Raids.
Ardern said the relationship between Samoa and New Zealand would continue to develop.
"There are of course elements of our relationship and our history where we have to acknowledge there were things that we had to apologise for as a nation and there's an appreciation that our relationship has matured and it's continuing to acknowledge where the past has created wounds but it looks very much to look forward."
The two leaders were holding a bilateral meeting today to discuss shared interests.
New Zealand has supported Samoa with its Covid-19 response, climate crisis projects and providing NZ aid scholarship for its local students, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said.