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
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>
CoveragePost
August 24, 2021
By Michael Field of The Pacific Newsroom Sāmoa’s defeated prime minister Tuila’epa Sailele has fired a verbal blast at Aotearoa New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, saying she had been blinded by an obsession to ensure a female prime minister led the Pacific nation. He also attacked Aotearoa Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and the governing ... <a title="Sāmoa’s defeated Tuila’epa launches attack on NZ’s Jacinda Ardern" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/24/samoas-defeated-tuilaepa-launches-attack-on-nzs-jacinda-ardern/" aria-label="Read more about Sāmoa’s defeated Tuila’epa launches attack on NZ’s Jacinda Ardern">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 16, 2021
EDITORIAL: By the Samoa Observer Editorial Board It has become obvious in recent weeks that the strategy of Samoa’s oldest political party is to “repeat a lie long enough that it becomes the truth”. And these untruths have been disbursed through multiple platforms: television, radio and social media as well as through protest marches and ... <a title="Samoa Observer: The ‘failed state’ fallacy and HRPP propaganda" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/16/samoa-observer-the-failed-state-fallacy-and-hrpp-propaganda/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: The ‘failed state’ fallacy and HRPP propaganda">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 14, 2021
RNZ Pacific The New Zealand government says it has full confidence Samoa’s new government and its judiciary will continue to act with integrity. This comes after former prime minister, Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, claimed that the recent actions of the judiciary had “shattered” the constitution and the law of the jungle now applied. Tuila’epa claimed the ... <a title="NZ reaffirms support for Samoa’s Fiame, as Tuila’epa grumbles" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/14/nz-reaffirms-support-for-samoas-fiame-as-tuilaepa-grumbles/" aria-label="Read more about NZ reaffirms support for Samoa’s Fiame, as Tuila’epa grumbles">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 5, 2021
By Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi in Apia Veteran Samoan parliamentarian and chairman of the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) has criticised what he characterises as the “extreme” and “defamatory” behaviour of the former Prime Minister of Samoa since losing government. Speaking during his programme Ia Ao Samoa yesterday, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt said he ... <a title="La’auli condemns Tuila’epa’s ‘extreme behavour’ in losing office in Samoa" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/05/laauli-condemns-tuilaepas-extreme-behavour-in-losing-office-in-samoa/" aria-label="Read more about La’auli condemns Tuila’epa’s ‘extreme behavour’ in losing office in Samoa">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 2, 2021
By Soli Wilson in Apia Heavy rain early today failed to deter more than 1000 Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) supporters who gathered in front of the Government building in Apia — some travelling hours to get there — to protest against what they claim to be the “disintegration” of Samoa’s constitution. Despite the sporadic ... <a title="Tuila’epa supporters demonstrate over ‘disintegration’ of Samoa constitution" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/02/tuilaepa-supporters-demonstrate-over-disintegration-of-samoa-constitution/" aria-label="Read more about Tuila’epa supporters demonstrate over ‘disintegration’ of Samoa constitution">Read more</a>
