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 29, 2025
Voting commenced in Samoa’s general election today, with more than 100,000 eligible voters heading to the polls to decide the country’s next government. A total of 187 candidates will contest 50 seats in Parliament, representing six political parties and 46 independents. The governing FAST Party leads the field with 58 candidates, followed closely by the ... <a title="Polls open in Samoa’s 2025 general election with one seat declared" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/29/polls-open-in-samoas-2025-general-election-with-one-seat-declared/" aria-label="Read more about Polls open in Samoa’s 2025 general election with one seat declared">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 27, 2025
By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RZ Pacific reporter in Apia, Samoa Pre-polling has kicked off in Samoa today, with around 1700 people expected to cast their votes ahead of Friday’s polling day. At the Tuana’imato Sports Complex in the capital, Apia, the atmosphere was upbeat as special voters began arriving. Special voters include those from Savai’i, the ... <a title="Samoa general election: Pre-polling kicks off" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/27/samoa-general-election-pre-polling-kicks-off/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa general election: Pre-polling kicks off">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 29, 2025
By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist Its official. Samoa’s Parliament will be dissolved next week and the country will have an early return to the polls. The confirmation comes after a dramatic day in Parliament on Tuesday, which saw the government’s budget voted down at its first reading. In a live address today, Prime Minister ... <a title="Samoa parliament to be dissolved in June, election date to come" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/29/samoa-parliament-to-be-dissolved-in-june-election-date-to-come/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa parliament to be dissolved in June, election date to come">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 2, 2021
RNZ Pacific Samoa’s new prime minister has opted not to proceed with a China-backed port development project championed by her predecessor. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa said the US$100 million (NZ$139m) project would have significantly added to the country’s exposure to China which already accounts for 40 percent of its external debt. The proposed construction in Vaiusu ... <a title="Samoa confirms China-backed Vaiusu Bay port project shelved" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/02/samoa-confirms-china-backed-vaiusu-bay-port-project-shelved/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa confirms China-backed Vaiusu Bay port project shelved">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>