“Welcome Home”: Fiame says to Samoan community in New Zealand

Prime Minister of Samoa Fiame Naomi Mataafa said that country looks forward to welcoming back the Samoan community in New Zealand with the increase of flights when borders reopen in August.

During a Press Conference during her first official bilateral visit to New Zealand on Tuesday Fiame was asked by a Tagata Pasifika Journalist what is her message to the Samoan community in New Zealand regarding coming home to Samoa.

Fiame said: "Welcome home."

"We look forward to it. This year, the 60th anniversary it's a year long celebration so there’s no need to rush back for the 1st of June which is already gone. And there are many other calendar events that are being set up," she said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister of Samoa Fiame Naomi Mataafa

Photo: Aupito William Sio, MP for Mangere/Facebook

Fiame explained that the country is already open for Samoans to come home.

"I had a meeting with Air New Zealand and of course the airlines like everyone else is readjusting. We've been given reassurances, at the moment we have a weekly passenger flight and a weekly cargo flight," she said.

"From 1st August they will progressively increase until it gets up to a daily flight by the end of the year so we're very confident working with the different partners and stakeholders."