Former National MP 'disappointed' in the party after not supporting a bill that could restore citizenship for some Samoans

“Absolutely emotional” is how a former National MP describes the moment when a bill that may restore citizenship for some Samoans passed its first reading.

Anae Arthur Anae is now urging the Samoan and wider community to make submissions for the Restoring Citizenship Removed by Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 bill.

The bill aims to repeal the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 which removed the right for Western Samoans born between 1924 and 1948 and their descendants to become NZ citizens.

Anae says, “my only words to all of them is to please sing the same words of the song because that’s the way we will get this [bill] through.

“If we go in there with confusing statements, the opposition is going to use that to their advantage but they have been saying that to me from day one when I started lobbying.”

Just under a month ago, Green MP Teanau Tuiono’s member’s bill to restore citizenship for some Samoans passed its first reading with all parties except National supporting it.

Anae says National were “blown away” when ACT and NZ First stated they were supporting the bill’s first reading.

“I’m just bitterly disappointed as someone that was there once but not surprised.

“It was Rob Muldoon that was the prime minister and he and David Lange joined hands and did a fast-tracking thing on the Samoan people.

“The whole thing was a sham. An absolute sham … it is still a sham.”

Anae highlights the importance of submissions from the Samoan community, considering New Zealand’s colonial past in the island nation.

“When they hear the history of what happened to the Samoan people over time, some of those MPs are going to cry because it will make you weep how we were treated.

“I’ve listened to some stories of the old people. For example an old man once came and saw me and said men had to hide in the bush at night because the New Zealand soldiers came in with their bayonets.

“When they were caught, they were tied together, barefooted, walking behind the horses with dogs behind them in case they tripped while these policemen were sitting on their coach.

“Let’s get a clean slate and move forward on the relationship between New Zealand and Samoan as I’ve always said in Parliament … the Pacific look at New Zealand as the matriarch.”

Submissions for the bill close on Friday 31st of May, 11:59pm.