Nearly 25,000 submissions have been received by the Governance and Administration Committee regarding the Restoring Citizenship Removed By Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 Bill, championed by Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono. This bill aims to re-establish New Zealand citizenship for Samoans born between 1924 and 1949, addressing a historical injustice stemming from a 1982 Privy Council ruling that was later overturned by the New Zealand government.
The significant public response, with around ten thousand submissions coming from Samoa, underscores the strong community interest in the bill. Teanau Tuiono expressed gratitude for the public's engagement, urging politicians, particularly the National Party, to support the bill. Anae Arthur Anae, a former National Party MP, also voiced confidence in the bill's potential to rectify past wrongs.
Public hearings will commence on June 24 in Wellington, continuing on June 26 and July 9, with an additional session in South Auckland on July 1. These hearings will gather further insights and opinions, with options for in-person and Zoom participation, and interpretation services available for Samoan speakers. The outcome of these hearings will be critical in determining the bill's future, reflecting the widespread hope for resolving this longstanding issue.
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