A call is being made for all Samoans to support the New Zealand citizenship bill to restore citizenship for all Samoans born between 1924 to 1949, with the Mau a Samoa march last Saturday in New Zealand.

Aupito William Sio, a former Samoan member of the New Zealand Parliament took to social media to make the call urging all Samoans in Samoa and abroad to share their support online via links available on the New Zealand Parliament site and through the Mau a Samoa group leading the march in New Zealand.

Aupito being the co-chair of the Mau a Samoa committee for the restoration of the New Zealand citizenship 2024 emphasized that this is Samoa's chance to restore this right.

"Samoa, we now have the chance to share our thoughts and support for this bill that is tabled in the parliamentary committee in New Zealand," he said.

"Samoa, come support this initiative to educate the parliament of New Zealand on our country's history during New Zealand's colonization of Samoa especially the bill that Maotu tabled in 1982 to dissolve this New Zealand citizenship which Falemai Lesa debated and won the supporting of this bill.

"This opportunity will be closed in May but we (committee of the Mau a Samoa) will have the forms to make it convenient to share your support and thoughts on the bill and we will relay them to the parliament."

Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Governance and Administration Committee made the call for submissions on the Restoring Citizenship Removed By Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 Bill.

The closing date for submissions is 11.59 pm on Friday, 31 May 2024.

The bill would repeal the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982. It would also enable people whose New Zealand citizenship was removed by the 1982 Act to receive, on application, New Zealand citizenship as of right.

"Submissions are publicly released and published to the Parliament website. Only your name or organisation’s name is required on a submission. Please keep your contact details separate, as if they are included on the submission they will become publicly available when the submission is released; If you wish to include information of a private or personal nature in your submission you should discuss this with the committee secretariat before submitting; If you wish to speak to your submission, please state this clearly."

Further guidance on making a submission can be found on the ‘How to make a submission’ link in the ‘Related documents’ panel at the bottom of this page.