A Parliamentary committee has endorsed the “Restoring Citizenship Removed By Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 Bill.” Introduced by Member of Parliament Teanau Tuiono, the bill seeks to reinstate New Zealand citizenship to certain Samoans whose citizenship was stripped by the 1982 Act.

The Governance and Administration Committee reviewed the bill and recommended its passage. The majority of the proposed amendments received unanimous support, except for a few clauses, notably 6, 10, and 14.

According to a Facebook post by Aupito William Sio today, the National Party has shifted its position and now supports Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill. The bill focuses on restoring New Zealand citizenship to Samoans born between 13 May 1924 and 1 January 1949, during the time when New Zealand and the United Kingdom governed Samoa. The support from National, alongside backing from Labour, the Green Party, and NZ First, has allowed the bill to progress to its second and third readings in the New Zealand Parliament.

The bill focuses on restoring citizenship for people born in Samoa between 13 May 1924 and 1 January 1949, their descendants, and women who gained citizenship through marriage before 1949. These provisions aim to address the impacts of the 1982 legislation that removed citizenship rights for many Samoans.

The bill now proceeds to its second reading in Parliament, where it will be debated and decided upon. Its approval depends on sufficient support from political parties. Further updates are expected following the reading.