Samoa: PM Schmidt likely to raise Treaty of Friendship review after New Zealand November general election

On 17 June, during debate over Samoa's annual budget, Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt indicated that the 1962 Treaty of Friendship with New Zealand deserved review. The statement was in response to a question from Member of Parliament Aeau Tima Leavaiseeta regarding why Samoans adopted in New Zealand did not earn New Zealand citizenship, as well as questioning the value of the Treaty in general. PM Schmidt stated he questioned the requirement of New Zealand visitor visas for Samoans with the New Zealand Prime Minister in March but would not raise the Treaty until after New Zealand's November 2026 general election.

Assessment: PM Schmidt has adopted a nationalist approach since taking office in 2025, where he won an overwhelming majority in a snap election. As recently as 16 June, he dismissed warnings from the Asian Development Bank that investment in a second state-owned international airline would present risks, stating they "don't know anything we are facing." He may also be influenced by Vanuatu's recent success in altering a proposed security and development agreement with Australia in Vanuatu's favour where economic and social mobility was a key issue. PM Schmidt is highly likely to raise a review of the Treaty with New Zealand, but as he notes it will wait until after New Zealand's general election, signalling it is not an urgent matter.

Sources: Sulamanaia Manaui Faulalo, ““How true is this friendship?” PM questions Samoa–NZ Treaty of Friendship,” Samoa Observer, 7 June 2026; Jarrett Malifa, “PM dismisses ADB airline warning: ‘They don’t know what we are facing’,” Samoa Observer, 16 June 2026.