CoveragePost
November 18, 2025
EDITORIAL: By the Samoa Observer They say the march toward authoritarian rule begins with one simple act: taking control of the narrative and silencing the independent press. Yesterday, Samoa witnessed a step in that direction. Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, elected by the people to serve them, has already moved to weaken one of democracy’s ... <a title="Samoa Observer: The PM’s wish and our promise" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/18/samoa-observer-the-pms-wish-and-our-promise/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: The PM’s wish and our promise">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 31, 2025
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter/bulletin editor, and Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist in Apia, Samoa A former New Zealand politician says there is a sense of relief in Samoa following snap general election day. Aupito William Sio is in Samoa to vote and support the communities he has responsibilities for as a chief. Aupito, ... <a title="‘Huge relief’ in Samoa post snap general election, says Aupito" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/31/huge-relief-in-samoa-post-snap-general-election-says-aupito/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Huge relief’ in Samoa post snap general election, says Aupito">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 30, 2025
By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist in Apia, Samoa Samoa’s electoral commissioner Toleafoa Tuiafelolo Alexander Stanley told the media the official count kicks off on Monday then next Friday is when official results are expected. The election, described as the most unpredictable in Samoa’s history, had no clear favourite going in given the governing party ... <a title="Samoa snap election: No results just yet, says electoral commissioner" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/30/samoa-snap-election-no-results-just-yet-says-electoral-commissioner/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa snap election: No results just yet, says electoral commissioner">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 25, 2025
COMMENTARY: By Asofou So’o Although seven political parties have officially registered to contest Samoa’s general election this Friday, three have been politically visible through their campaign activities and are likely to share among them the biggest slice of the Parliament’s 51 seats. The question on everyone’s lips is: which one of them will win enough ... <a title="Gearing up for the 2025 Samoan general election – three-way split?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/25/gearing-up-for-the-2025-samoan-general-election-three-way-split/" aria-label="Read more about Gearing up for the 2025 Samoan general election – three-way split?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 3, 2025
RNZ Pacific Samoa’s Parliament has been formally dissolved, and an early election is set to take place within three months. After months of political instability and two motions of no confidence, Prime Minister Fiāme Naomi Mata’afa said she would call for the dissolution of Parliament if cabinet did not support her government’s budget. MPs from ... <a title="Samoa parliament formally dissolved after months of uncertainty" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/03/samoa-parliament-formally-dissolved-after-months-of-uncertainty/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa parliament formally dissolved after months of uncertainty">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 28, 2025
RNZ Pacific Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa has advised Samoa’s head of state that it is necessary to dissolve Parliament so the country can move to an election. This follows the bill for the budget not getting enough support for a first reading on yesterday, and Fiame announcing she would therefore seek an early election. ... <a title="Samoan PM Fiamē advises dissolution of parliament, calls for snap elections" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/28/samoan-pm-fiame-advises-dissolution-of-parliament-calls-for-snap-elections/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan PM Fiamē advises dissolution of parliament, calls for snap elections">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 25, 2025
By Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has survived a vote of no confidence after weeks of political turmoil. In a vote today, she defeated the motion by 34 votes in favour and 15 against. The motion was prompted by a split in the ruling FAST Party, which saw ... <a title="Samoan Prime Minister Fiame survives in resounding no-confidence vote" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/25/samoan-prime-minister-fiame-survives-in-resounding-no-confidence-vote/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan Prime Minister Fiame survives in resounding no-confidence vote">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 22, 2025
SPECIAL REPORT: By Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson and Lilomaiava Maina Vai The Speaker of the House, Papali’i Li’o Taeu Masipau, decisively addressed a letter from FAST, which informed him of the removal of Fiame along with Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Ponifasio, Leatinu’u Wayne Fong, Olo Fiti Vaai, Faualo Harry Schuster, and Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster from ... <a title="Samoa political update: Fiame prevails in leadership crisis" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/01/22/samoa-political-update-fiame-prevails-in-leadership-crisis/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa political update: Fiame prevails in leadership crisis">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 19, 2025
RNZ Pacific Samoa’s prime minister and the five other ousted members of the ruling FAST Party are reportedly challenging their removal. FAST chair La’auli Leuatea Schmidt on Wednesday announced the removal of the prime minister and five Cabinet ministers from the ruling party. Twenty party members signed for the removal of Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and ... <a title="Samoan political saga: Challenge to FAST party by ‘ousted’ MPs reported" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/01/19/samoan-political-saga-challenge-to-fast-party-by-ousted-mps-reported/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan political saga: Challenge to FAST party by ‘ousted’ MPs reported">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 18, 2025
COMMENTARY: By Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson and Junior S. Ami With just over a year left in her tenure as Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa faces a political upheaval threatening a peaceful end to her term. Ironically, the rule of law — the very principle that elevated her to power — has now become ... <a title="Samoa’s political future hangs in balance with Fiame leadership challenge" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/01/18/samoas-political-future-hangs-in-balance-with-fiame-leadership-challenge/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa’s political future hangs in balance with Fiame leadership challenge">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 29, 2021
By Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific journalist The United Nations has glaring problems in Samoa where the government is calling for the UN’s role in the country to be reviewed. The most pressing immediate problem concerns the UN Resident Co-ordinator in Samoa, Simona Marinescu, and the local government’s allegation that she has interfered in domestic politics. ... <a title="UN relationship with Samoa under a cloud over ‘political breaches’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/11/29/un-relationship-with-samoa-under-a-cloud-over-political-breaches/" aria-label="Read more about UN relationship with Samoa under a cloud over ‘political breaches’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 14, 2021
RNZ Pacific Five months after Samoa’s April 9 general election the FAST party government finally began its first parliamentary session today. But it was without the members of the opposition HRPP party, who were shut out by the Speaker, Papalii Lio Masipau. Papali’i announced a ban yesterday, saying the HRPP was still failing to acknowledge ... <a title="Samoan parliament sits but opposition MPs banned" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/09/14/samoan-parliament-sits-but-opposition-mps-banned/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan parliament sits but opposition MPs banned">Read more</a>
