Samoans are fourth on the list of overstayers in New Zealand. The statistics were revealed last week as the New Zealand government announced a planned immigration law change.

It was revealed that even if a person has lived in the country for more than 20 years, they can be deported. 

This new law change has been planned so that criminals can be deported if they have been permanent residents for up to 20 years. 

It has been reported that the limit applies to those who have been committed serious crimes.

New Zealand's Immigration Minister, Erica Stanford, has announced the changes alongside other changes to the Immigration Act.

The changes will include the deportation of people who provide false or misleading information and have committed historical crimes before going to New Zealand. 

The penalties for migrant exploitation were also revealed in these changes of increasing from seven years in prison to 10 years.

People who were also granted a visa by mistake may also be liable for deportation back to their country of origin.

Deportation liability notices will be able to be issued electronically.

The statistics released last Thursday of countries with the most overstaying citizens in New Zealand have revealed Samoa being number four.

The countries with the most overstayers in NZ are: Tonga with 2599, China is second with 2577 overstayers, the United States with 2213 and Samoa on number four with 1697 people overstaying.

Number five is India with 1582, Great Britain at number six with 1256, the Philippines with 938 and Malaysia with 753.