More than 30,000 people have signed a petition to allow Pacific island travelers, including Samoan citizens, to get a three-month visa upon arrival in New Zealand.
The Pacific Justice petition was launched in February by former MP Anae Arthur Anae, the first Pacific person to be elected to New Zealand’s Parliament.
At present, travelers from Pacific island countries have to apply for a visa in order to enter NZ.
Two weeks ago, Anae raised concerns that the previous government in Samoa had not backed the initiative.
But following a meeting with Samoa PM Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt in Auckland, Anae says the Samoan government is supportive of the petition.
“Laauli (Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt) and the Samoa government are totally supportive, and we continue with our petition to the New Zealand government to treat us equally as the other 60 countries,” he said.
“We identified 60 countries around the world that can arrive in a New Zealand airport and have a three-month visitor’s visa stamped into their passport at no cost. And that total population is 1.65 billion people. The total population of our Pacific nations is less than 16 million—a fraction,” Anae stated.
The deadline to sign the petition is November 7.
Photo: Anae Arthur Anae Facebook Page
