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 19, 2025
There should be only one reason why people enter politics. It is for the good of the nation and the people who voted them in. It is to be their voice at the national level where the country’s future is decided. The recent developments within the Samoan government are a stark reminder that people have ... <a title="Samoa Observer: For the people or for themselves?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/01/19/samoa-observer-for-the-people-or-for-themselves/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: For the people or for themselves?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 26, 2021
EDITORIAL: By the Samoa Observer editorial board It would be an understatement to say that we are stunned to see that the Human Rights Protection Party leader Tuila’epa Dr Sa’ilele Malielegaoi now alleges the New Zealand Prime Minister plotted his removal from office. This is beginning to sound really weird coming from a former prime ... <a title="Samoa Observer: A feminist plot? No, just refusal to accept the truth" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/26/samoa-observer-a-feminist-plot-no-just-refusal-to-accept-the-truth/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: A feminist plot? No, just refusal to accept the truth">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 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>
CoveragePost
July 27, 2021
RNZ Pacific Samoa’s new FAST Party government has got down to work this morning, meeting with the heads of government departments, more than 100 days after it had won the election. FAST MPs were forced to swear themselves in because the Head of State had barred them from entering Parliament. The court ruled that the ... <a title="Samoa’s FAST party gets quickly down to work after court ruling" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/07/27/samoas-fast-party-gets-quickly-down-to-work-after-court-ruling/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa’s FAST party gets quickly down to work after court ruling">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 23, 2021
By Lanuola Tusani Tupufia-Ah Tong in Apia Samoa’s Court of Appeal ruled today that the Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party was the country’s new government bringing three months of political stalemate to a close. The court, the highest in the country, found that a swearing-in ceremony conducted by the party on the ... <a title="Samoa’s highest court declares FAST government legal – impasse ends" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/07/23/samoas-highest-court-declares-fast-government-legal-impasse-ends/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa’s highest court declares FAST government legal – impasse ends">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 15, 2021
EDITORIAL: By the Samoa Observer editorial board When Australia’s second-longest ever serving Prime Minister faced a complete wipeout at the national elections after 10 years in power — even being voted out of his own seat — he realised that he had lost but only as part of a process much bigger than he was. ... <a title="Samoa Observer: For Tuila’epa, what follows defeat?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/07/15/samoa-observer-for-tuilaepa-what-follows-defeat/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: For Tuila’epa, what follows defeat?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 13, 2021
RNZ Pacific Samoa’s HRPP party — the country’s caretaker government — has now lost six seats since the April 9 general election, with eight byelections to come. The incoming FAST Party government holds 26 seats to the HRPP’s 19. FAST, which won the election but has been stymied in its efforts to assume power by ... <a title="Samoa’s HRPP loses more seats as political impasse drags on" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/07/13/samoas-hrpp-loses-more-seats-as-political-impasse-drags-on/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa’s HRPP loses more seats as political impasse drags on">Read more</a>