New Zealand High Commission in Samoa

New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, Her Excellency Si’alei van Toor, recently welcomed three new volunteers from New Zealand as they begin their assignments with local partner organisations across Samoa.

The arrival of these three volunteers brings the total number of in-country volunteers to nine (9), each contributing their skills, experience, and expertise in support of Samoa’s development priorities.
Joining local partner organisations are Litia Gibson (Salvation Army Services), John Kingsbury (Betham Brothers Enterprises) and Howard Markland (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries).

Facilitated through Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA), New Zealand’s largest volunteering agency, these placements continue a longstanding partnership between Samoa and New Zealand.

Since 1963, VSA has connected skilled New Zealand professionals with Samoan organisations to strengthen local capability, foster knowledge exchange and support sustainable, community-led development.

Together, these partnerships reflect the enduring people-to-people connections at the heart of the Samoa-New Zealand relationship.

VSA (Volunteer Service Abroad)
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries - Samoa

O le asō, A*o Gafua 15 o Iuni, 2026, ua tatala ai le avanoa mo tusi talosaga mo fesoasoani tau tupe i lalo o le New Zealand High Commission Fund.

Mo fa’amatalaga uma i le vaega muamua o lenei fesoasoani mo lenei tausaga fa'a-le-tupe, ua faailoa atu ile pepa fa’ailo ua fa’apipi’i atu, pe imeli mai fo'i ile [email protected].

🛎JOB ALERT 🛎

The New Zealand High Commission in Apia is looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Development Programme Coordinator to join our dynamic team.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the delivery of the New Zealand International Development Cooperation programme in Samoa, supporting the long-term partnership between Samoa and New Zealand.

The successful candidate will be managing and coordinating across New Zealand’s regional and multilateral support programmes in Samoa, and will work closely with key stakeholders across the sector and development partners.

The salary band for this role is SAT$66,296 – SAT$89,694 and is a 12-month contract position.

We are looking for someone with:

✅ Experience in project/activity management including working with in country partners to improve the quality of their plans, reporting, programmes and processes.
✅ Relevant graduate tertiary qualification.
✅ Minimum of 4 years’ experience working in government, NGO, or development organisation - preferably with Samoan experience.
✅ Proven experience in budget planning and monitoring, and can contribute to the strategic development of programmes by providing local perspective and knowledge.
✅ Strong relationship management skills and a sound understanding of the Government of Samoa’s systems and processes.
✅ A high standard of written and oral skills in both English and Samoan, including the ability to present and effectively debate complex issues.

A detailed job description and application form is available from the New Zealand High Commission, Apia or by emailing [email protected].

Applications are to be submitted via the email above or by mail to:

Vacancy: Development Programme Coordinator
NZ High Commission
P O Box 1876
Apia, SAMOA
Applications close at 5.00pm Monday 22 June 2026.

Manuia tele le fa’amanatuina o lou Tu-to’atasi Samoa.
Today, we honor Samoa’s enduring journey and the strong partnership between Samoa and New Zealand. 🇼🇸🇳🇿🤝

We are privileged to have the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Afioga Rt Hon Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters in Samoa to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Happy 64th Independence Day Samoa.

Kia pai tō rā!

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ia Manuia le A*o Tuto'atasi o Samoa! 🌸

The New Zealand High Commission will be closed on Monday 1 June and Tuesday 2 June in commemoration of the 64th Independence Anniversary of Samoa. We will reopen to the public on Wednesday 3 June.

We wish everyone a safe and blessed Independence Anniversary week.

🇼🇸🇳🇿

🎉👩‍🎓🎓

A big fa’amalo to Morryacy Ali’i Laki Tolo for graduating today!

Malo le sa’ilimalo, malo le finau.

Na fa’amanuiaina le tama’ita’i o Morryacy ile avanoa sikolasipi [NZ Manaaki Scholarship] mai le Malō o Niu Sila ile tausaga e 2023, mo le Iunivesite a le Pasefika i Saute. E le’i faigofie le tu’ua ai o aiga, ae aumau ai i atunu’u mamao mo aoaoga, aemaise le valavala ma matua.
Ae ua fa’ataunu’u ma le manuia lona fa’amoemoe.

E momoli atu ai le fa’amalo ile loto finau, ma le fa’aaogaina lelei o avanoa, aua sa’iliga manuia mo aiga, nu’u, aemaise o le atunu’u.

Malo le alofa ile tapuaiga a matua, o aiga, o nu’u, ekalesia ma le atunu’u.

We also extend our warm congratulations to all Manaaki scholars who graduated today from the University of the South Pacific. Fa’amalo lava le tauivi 🎓👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🙌

This morning, New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner to Samoa, Lavea’i Ioane, opened a SME Workshop on Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity at the Samoa Business Hub in Sogi, held as part of a week-long programme supporting the visit of the Business Link Pacific (BLP) team to Samoa.

Addressing local business owners and entrepreneurs, Ms. Ioane highlighted the growing opportunities digital transformation presents for Samoa’s private sector, including improved efficiencies and access to new markets. She also stressed the importance of strengthening “digital capability and cyber resilience” as essential skills for businesses operating in an increasingly connected environment.

Through BLP, New Zealand continues to support the growth of Samoa’s private sector by connecting businesses with advisory services, finance, and local partners.

Since 2019, the New Zealand-funded programme has supported more than 380 Samoan businesses to access grants, subsidies, advisory support, and financing opportunities.

Ms. Ioane also acknowledged the strong partnership between Samoa Chamber of Commerce & Industry and BLP, commended participating local businesses, and thanked Leiataualesa Jobenz Manoa of WebSafe Samoa for facilitating the workshop.

New Zealand’s Minister of Customs, Hon. Casey Costello has concluded a successful visit to Samoa from 17–19 May 2026, reaffirming the deep and enduring partnership between Samoa and New Zealand in strengthening regional security and protecting Pacific communities.

Her visit built on the visit by the PM of New Zealand in March where he witnessed the signing of the Customs Arrangement between Samoa and NZ that has seen a step up in our customs cooperation.

During her visit, Minister Costello met with Samoa’s Minister of Customs, Masinalupe Makesi Masinapule, where both Ministers discussed the importance of close cooperation in addressing the growing threat of illicit drugs and transnational organised crime entering the Pacific.

Minister Costello emphasised that Samoa and New Zealand “share one border”, highlighting the importance of working together collaboratively to ensure strong and secure borders that protect both countries and the wider Pacific region. She noted that border security is increasingly critical as Pacific nations continue to face growing challenges linked to drug trafficking and organised criminal networks.

Hon. Masinalupe echoed these sentiments during bilateral discussions, acknowledging the valuable partnership between Samoa Customs and New Zealand Customs, particularly New Zealand’s ongoing support through training opportunities, operational cooperation, knowledge exchange, and information sharing. Both Ministers reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration and regional partnerships to strengthen customs capability and frontline responses across the Pacific.

The visit programme included a tour of the Samoa Detector Dog Unit, where Minister Costello observed a live demonstration showcasing frontline narcotics detection capabilities and met with officers and handlers working to combat the inflow of illicit substances into Samoa and the region. She also visited the Apia Port to receive briefings on Samoa’s customs operations and border management efforts.

She also toured the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (PTCCC), where she met with regional partners working collectively to combat transnational organised crime through intelligence sharing and coordinated Pacific-wide responses.

A former Detective Sergeant and Vice-President of the Police Association, Minister Costello entered the New Zealand Parliament in 2023 and currently serves as Minister of Customs, Minister for Seniors, Associate Minister of Health, Associate Minister of Immigration, and Associate Minister of Police. Her extensive frontline policing experience continues to inform New Zealand’s commitment to supporting safer and more secure Pacific communities.

New Zealand remains committed to working alongside Samoa through trusted partnerships, practical cooperation, and shared regional priorities to help build a safer, stronger, and more resilient Pacific for future generations.

New Zealand Customs Pacific Connections - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Auckland Samoa Police, Prisons & Corrections Services