Samoa and New Zealand Reinforce Partnership Through High-Level Bilateral Meetings

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – Samoa's Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labour, Hon. Fata Ryan Schuster, has held a bilateral meeting with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon. Winston Peters as part of an official visit to New Zealand aimed at strengthening the long-standing partnership between the two countries.

The meeting was held alongside the 2nd Future of Investment and Trade (FIT) Partnership Ministerial Meeting in Auckland, bringing together Pacific leaders to discuss opportunities for greater regional trade, investment and economic cooperation.

The discussions between Minister Fata and Deputy Prime Minister Peters focused on areas of mutual interest, including trade, labour mobility, investment and the continued collaboration between Samoa and New Zealand in supporting sustainable economic growth across the Pacific.

The bilateral engagement forms part of a broader official programme hosted by the New Zealand Government. According to official documents issued by the New Zealand High Commission in Apia, Minister Fata's visit extends beyond ministerial meetings in Auckland and includes engagements across several regions of New Zealand.

Following the FIT Ministerial Meeting, Minister Fata is scheduled to visit Hawke's Bay to meet Samoan workers participating in New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme, along with employers and Samoa's Country Liaison Officer. These engagements provide an opportunity to hear directly from workers and industry representatives while strengthening labour mobility cooperation between the two countries.

The official programme also includes meetings with New Zealand Government agencies in Wellington, where discussions will focus on policy matters relating to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour's portfolio, as well as a bilateral meeting with New Zealand's Minister of Immigration.

Minister Fata will then travel to Blenheim, where he is expected to meet additional Samoan RSE workers and employers, while visiting sustainable small businesses and tourism operators to observe initiatives that could provide valuable insights for Samoa's own economic development.

The New Zealand Government is funding the official programme, including international and domestic flights, accommodation, ground transport and daily meals for the Samoan delegation participating in the visit.

The programme reflects the close and enduring relationship between Samoa and New Zealand, built on decades of cooperation in trade, labour mobility, development assistance and people-to-people connections.

As Samoa continues to pursue sustainable economic growth, engagements such as these provide an important platform to strengthen bilateral cooperation, expand investment opportunities and ensure that programmes such as the RSE scheme continue to deliver positive outcomes for Samoan workers, their families and the wider economy.

The visit also underscores both countries' shared commitment to working together on regional priorities while creating new opportunities that benefit the people of Samoa and New Zealand alike.