CoveragePost
January 12, 2026
RNZ Pacific A proposal by Sāmoa’s Prime Minister to ban all non-Christian religions from the country is being met with mixed reactions. The Samoa Observer reported church ministers and members of the public voicing views both for and against the proposal. Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Polataivao Schmidt said he raised the issue with Samoa’s Council of ... <a title="Mixed reactions over Samoan PM’s proposal to ban non-Christian religions" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/mixed-reactions-over-samoan-pms-proposal-to-ban-non-christian-religions/" aria-label="Read more about Mixed reactions over Samoan PM’s proposal to ban non-Christian religions">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 24, 2025
Pacific Media Watch Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has defended his decision to ban the Samoa Observer in response to a joint letter from the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF). In a statement issued by the Press Secretary, Nanai Lave Tuiletufuga yesterday, the office of the Prime Minister acknowledged ... <a title="PM hits back at PINA and PFF over Samoa Observer ‘ethics’ ban" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/24/pm-hits-back-at-pina-and-pff-over-samoa-observer-ethics-ban/" aria-label="Read more about PM hits back at PINA and PFF over Samoa Observer ‘ethics’ ban">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 22, 2025
By Sulamanaia Manaui Faulalo of the Samoa Observer Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt says international media are “in the dark” about the reasons behind his decision to ban the Samoa Observer from government press conferences, arguing that overseas attention has created “support for one newspaper at the expense of the entire country.” He also addressed concerns ... <a title="Samoan PM takes aim at local journalists, claims overseas media ‘in the dark’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/22/samoan-pm-takes-aim-at-local-journalists-claims-overseas-media-in-the-dark/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan PM takes aim at local journalists, claims overseas media ‘in the dark’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 20, 2025
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders has called on the Samoan Prime Minister to lift the ban preventing the daily newspaper Samoa Observer from attending government press conferences. “The measure is totally unacceptable — it comes after one of its journalists filed a complaint over violence committed by the ... <a title="RSF calls on Samoan PM to lift ‘unacceptable’ ban on Samoa Observer" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/20/rsf-calls-on-samoan-pm-to-lift-unacceptable-ban-on-samoa-observer/" aria-label="Read more about RSF calls on Samoan PM to lift ‘unacceptable’ ban on Samoa Observer">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 19, 2025
Pacific Media Watch Regional student journalists at the University of the South Pacific have condemned the Samoan Prime Minister’s ban on the Samoa Observer newspaper, branding it as a “deliberate and systemic attempt to restrict public scrutiny”. The Journalism Students’ Association (JSA) at USP said in a statement today it was “deeplyconcerned” about Samoan Prime ... <a title="Regional Pacific student journalists condemn Samoa PM’s ban as ‘deeply troubling’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/19/regional-pacific-student-journalists-condemn-samoa-pms-ban-as-deeply-troubling/" aria-label="Read more about Regional Pacific student journalists condemn Samoa PM’s ban as ‘deeply troubling’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 19, 2025
By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist The editor of Samoa’s only daily newspaper barred on Monday from accessing the Prime Minister’s press conferences says media freedom in Samoa is under attack. Samoan Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt “temporarily” banned the Samoa Observer from engagements with him and his ministers. In a statement, La’aulialemalietoa said ... <a title="Samoa editor says media freedom under attack in response to PM’s ban" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/19/samoa-editor-says-media-freedom-under-attack-in-response-to-pms-ban/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa editor says media freedom under attack in response to PM’s ban">Read more</a>
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
November 17, 2025
RNZ Pacific Samoan Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has returned home after an eight-week absence for medical treatment in New Zealand. La’aulialemalietoa departed Apia for Auckland on a private jet just days after being sworn in as Samoa’s eighth prime minister on September 16. The Samoan government had previously said he was expected to return ... <a title="Samoan PM back home as journalist alleges assault outside his residence" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/17/samoan-pm-back-home-as-journalist-alleges-assault-outside-his-residence/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan PM back home as journalist alleges assault outside his residence">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
October 24, 2024
By Susana Suisuiki, RNZ Pacific journalist in Apia King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla have landed in Apia, Samoa. The monarch has been greeted by a guard of honour at the airport before being escorted to his accommodation in Siumu. Local villagers have lined the roadsides with lanterns to welcome His Royal Highness. ... <a title="King Charles arrives in Samoa for ‘resilient environment’ CHOGM" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/10/24/king-charles-arrives-in-samoa-for-resilient-environment-chogm/" aria-label="Read more about King Charles arrives in Samoa for ‘resilient environment’ CHOGM">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 23, 2024
By Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi in Apia The Ocean Declaration that will be agreed upon at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this week will be known as the Apia Ocean Declaration. In an exclusive interview with the Samoa Observer, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said members were in a unique position to bring their voices ... <a title="Apia Ocean Declaration to be ‘crown jewel’ of CHOGM climate ‘fight back’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/10/23/apia-ocean-declaration-to-be-crown-jewel-of-chogm-climate-fight-back/" aria-label="Read more about Apia Ocean Declaration to be ‘crown jewel’ of CHOGM climate ‘fight back’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 13, 2024
By Harry Pearl Restrictions on journalists covering an upcoming summit of Commonwealth nations in Samoa are “ridiculous” and at odds with a government that purportedly values democracy, says the Pacific island country’s media association. The Samoa Observer newspaper in an editorial also condemned the government’s attempt to limit coverage of the Commonwealth Heads of Government ... <a title="Samoan journalists blast ‘ridiculous’ media restrictions at Commonwealth summit" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/09/13/samoan-journalists-blast-ridiculous-media-restrictions-at-commonwealth-summit/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan journalists blast ‘ridiculous’ media restrictions at Commonwealth summit">Read more</a>
