Samoa's prime minister has called matai titles bestowed abroad without the presence of village councils fake.
Samoa PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Photo: RNZ Pacific /Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said they will not be officially recognised in Samoa.
He was responding to grievances raised by some people in New Zealand and Australia about a law change that doesn't recognise matai titles given outside of Samoa.
Tuilaepa told Auckland's Radio Samoa that for a bestowal to be legitimate, a traditional usu ceremony needs to be held by a village council.
Without this traditional element, he said, a matai title is illegitimate.