Inspector Semisi James “Jimmy” Patea, a Samoan-born police leader with more than 28 years of experience in New Zealand Police, will return to Samoa next month to lead the new Samoa–New Zealand Policing Programme.

Born in Samoa and raised in New Zealand, Patea has been appointed team leader of the New Zealand Police advisory group embedded within the Samoa Police Service.

His appointment marks the beginning of a new four-year bilateral partnership between the Samoa Police Service, New Zealand Police and New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Samoa–New Zealand Policing Programme was announced during Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit in March 2026 and was developed at the request of the Government of Samoa and the Samoa Police Service.

The partnership is designed to strengthen Samoa’s policing capability and help deliver trusted, effective and community-centered services across the country.

It reflects a shared commitment between Samoa and New Zealand to build resilient and community-focused policing, based on partnership and a “by Pacific, for Pacific” approach.

The main goal of the programme is to improve Samoa’s ability to meet its changing law and security needs through sustainable capability development.

A key part of the programme is the deployment of five New Zealand Police advisers based in Samoa, led by Patea, who will work closely alongside Samoa Police counterparts.

Their work will focus on strengthening strategic leadership, core policing functions and organizational systems within the Samoa Police Service.

The programme will be delivered through mentoring, coaching, training and joint problem-solving, supporting long-term capability instead of short-term solutions.

New Zealand Police personnel under the programme will serve in an advisory role only and will not carry out operational or investigative authority in Samoa.

Patea currently serves as Professional Conduct Manager at Police National Headquarters in New Zealand, where he works on integrity, accountability and organizational standards.

His career includes leadership in frontline policing, serious and complex investigations, family harm and child protection, along with national-level operational roles.

He has also led investigative teams within the Criminal Investigation Branch and held national leadership roles focused on prevention, system improvement and community partnership.

The participation of New Zealand Police in offshore deployments is a recognized statutory function under Section 9(g) of the Policing Act 2008, which allows policing activities outside New Zealand.

This includes New Zealand International Cooperation Development programmes, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through which New Zealand Police provide technical assistance and training to support the development of international policing partners.