Samoa
About Samoa
Samoa is an independent state situated about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand and home to 195,000 people. Our countries have a close relationship and share a vision for a prosperous and resilient Samoa with a skilled and healthy Samoan population. We support Samoa to foster economic development and adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Find out more about Samoa.
Trade
Samoa’s main sources of income are from tourism, remittances, and foreign grants. Samoa’s major trading partners are New Zealand, Australia, American Samoa and Fiji. The Samoan Government is serious about changing the trade imbalance between our two countries. In 2011, it launched the Auckland-based New Zealand Samoa Trade and Investment Commission to facilitate, strengthen and increase the flow of trade and investment between New Zealand and Samoa.
2018 Statistics
|
Two-way trade |
NZD$401 million* |
|
|
Goods exports to Samoa |
NZD$106 million* |
Top exports: Machinery and equipment; Wood and articles of wood; Industrial supplies; Foodstuffs |
|
Goods imports from Samoa |
NZD$7 million* |
Top imports: Edible vegetables; Beverages; Edible fruits and nuts |
|
GDP |
USD$861 million^ |
|
| GDP per capita | USD$4,318^ | NZ GDP per capita is USD$41,267^ |
Sources: *MBIE Trade Intelligence May 2019 (external link) ^IMF WEO April 2019 (external link)
Development cooperation
Our countries share a vision for a prosperous and resilient Samoa with a skilled and healthy Samoan population. We value Samoa’s reputation for good governance and as a leader in the region. We foster relationships between New Zealand and Samoan counterpart institutions, and with others, support Samoa’s policy reform agenda.
Find out more about our current priorities, achievements and activities in Samoa.
Embassies
- New Zealand is represented in Samoa by the New Zealand High Commission, Apia
- Samoa is represented in New Zealand by the Samoan High Commission, Wellington (external link)
Recent official visits
New Zealand to Samoa
- August 2018: Foreign Minister Winston Peters attended the Pacific Islands’ Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting in Apia, Samoa.
- March 2018: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Foreign Minister Winston Peters led a Pacific Mission to Samoa, Niue, Tonga, and the Cook Islands on 4-9 March. While in Samoa the Prime Minister met with the Samoan Prime Minister, other ministers and attended a number of climate change and disaster resilience related events.
Samoa to New Zealand
- May 2019: Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa visited New Zealand to attend and speak at the Just Transition Summit in New Plymouth and met with Prime Minister Ardern, Foreign Minister Peters, Minister Shaw, Minister Genter and members of the Pacific Caucus.
- February 2019: Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and Minister of Finance Sili Epa Tuioti led a delegation to visit Waitangi, and met with Prime Minister Ardern, Foreign Minister Peters, Māori iwi leaders, and members of the Pacific Caucus. The Samoan delegation also attended Waitangi Day.
- February 2019: Commerce Minister Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell visited New Zealand to discuss labour mobility and RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employment Scheme) with New Zealand government agencies and industry.
- February 2018: Communications and Information Technology Minister Afamasaga Rico Tupai visit New Zealand to attend the 2030 Digital Nations Conference in Auckland and the D5 Ministerial Summit in Wellington where he met with the Minister for Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media.