Historic law change addresses 40-year injustice.
The New Zealand Parliament has passed a landmark bill restoring the right to citizenship for people from Western Samoa who were stripped of their rights due to a discriminatory law in 1982. The Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, which will become law, reverses the effects of the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982.
The legislation was driven by Green Party spokesperson Teanau Tuiono, who praised the efforts of the Samoan community and cross-party MPs for their work on the bill. Successful applicants will be eligible for citizenship as of right, without having to go through the standard residency and application processes. They will also be refunded for costs involved in the process.
This historic win offers an opportunity for healing and reconciliation with the country's past wrongs. The law change follows a long journey of advocacy, including apologies and steps towards addressing historical injustices, such as the Dawn Raids apology. Teanau Tuiono hopes this legislation goes some way towards atoning for the mistreatment of the Samoan community.
The amendment bill is set to have far-reaching implications, particularly for those who were affected by the 1982 law and are now eligible to claim citizenship as a result.