Samoa-NZ travel deal delayed until after NZ vote; visa-on-arrival push on

Samoa's prime minister has put work on a refreshed treaty with New Zealand on hold until after New Zealand's general election, saying he wants to negotiate with whoever leads the incoming government. La'aulialemalietoa (La'auli) Leuatea Schmidt revealed the decision at a function in Apia held in support of a campaign for visa on arrival travel for Samoans going to New Zealand.

Key facts

• Talks on refreshing the Treaty of Friendship are paused until New Zealand's general election is fully concluded.
• La'auli says New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon asked him to proceed anyway and he refused.
• The comments were made at a cocktail function in Apia last week supporting the 'visa on arrival' campaign led by community leader Anae Arthur Anae.
• Anae was in Samoa seeking signatures for changes to New Zealand's immigration arrangements for Samoans.
• The Treaty of Friendship was signed in August 1962, after Samoa gained independence from New Zealand.

Why are the treaty talks paused?

La'auli said New Zealand's prime minister wanted the treaty work to go ahead regardless. "Luxon wanted me to go ahead and proceed with it, but I said no," he was quoted as saying.

Instead, La'auli said he told Luxon to wait until the New Zealand election was fully concluded and it was clear who the new prime minister would be, so that he could have what he described as a fair go at the newly elected leader.

What is the Treaty of Friendship?

The Treaty of Friendship is the principal bilateral agreement between Samoa and New Zealand and a unique partnership between the two countries. It was signed in August 1962, after Samoa became independent from New Zealand.

La'auli said he is preparing proposals to refresh and refine Samoa's relationship with New Zealand under the treaty, and is currently assembling Samoa's perspective on how that relationship might be updated. Luxon visited Samoa in March 2026, where he met La'auli, was bestowed with the matai (chiefly) title of Tuisinavemaulumoto'otua from the village of Apia, and signed memorandums of understanding on police and customs cooperation against transnational crime.

What is the visa on arrival campaign?

The announcement came at a cocktail function in Apia last week in support of the 'visa on arrival' campaign led by prominent Aotearoa community leader Anae Arthur Anae. Anae was in Samoa seeking signatures for changes to New Zealand's immigration arrangements for Samoans, and has become a leading campaigner for immigration reform for Pacific Islanders.

No details are given of the specific immigration changes being sought, and no timetable for any change is stated.

What this means for travellers

Nothing in the announcement alters current entry arrangements between the two countries. Samoans planning travel to New Zealand should note that the campaign is still gathering support and that no change to New Zealand's immigration rules for Samoans has been announced.

No date has been given for the treaty talks to resume. La'auli said the work will continue only after New Zealand's general election is concluded and a new prime minister is known.