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ʻAnae Calls National Party "D*ck Heads" Over Samoa Citizenship Bill


Former National Party MP Anae Arthur Anae . . . "Time has changed, we've got to wake up to it." Image: RNZ/Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Former National Party MP Anae Arthur Anae ."Time has changed, we've got to wake up to it." RNZ/Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Former National Party MP Anae Arthur Anae has launched a fierce critique of his party’s refusal to support a bill aimed at restoring New Zealand citizenship to a group of Samoans, condemning their stance as “outright racism.” The bill, introduced by Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono, seeks to overturn the 1982 Western Samoa Citizenship Act, which stripped many Samoans of their citizenship rights.


Anae, who served as a National Party MP from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2000 to 2002, expressed his frustration in an interview with RNZ Pacific. "The National Party looked like d*ck heads not supporting the bill," Anae stated bluntly. "It's time to wake up and realize that times have changed."


Anae's Background

Arthur Anae, born in 1945 in Fiji to Samoan parents, migrated to New Zealand in 1951 at the age of five. He made history as the first Pasifika MP for the National Party. Anae first entered Parliament in the 1996 election as a list MP and served until 1999. He returned to Parliament briefly in 2000, filling a vacancy left by Don McKinnon’s resignation, but did not retain his seat in the 2002 election due to a low list ranking.


Political Career and Local Governance

Anae’s political journey includes his candidacy in the 1993 general election for the Auckland Central electorate and his subsequent service on the Auckland City Council, starting from the 1987 local elections. He was elected to the Manukau City Council in 2004 and ran for the mayoralty of Manukau City in 2007, where he placed third. In the 2010 Auckland Council elections, Anae was elected from the Manukau ward and served as the Chair of the Council's Economic Forum. He was re-elected in 2013 but chose not to stand in the 2016 elections, effectively retiring from politics.


The Controversial Bill

Tuiono’s bill aims to correct the historical wrong of the Western Samoa Citizenship Act 1982, which reversed a Privy Council ruling that had entitled Samoans born before 1948 to New Zealand citizenship as "natural-born British subjects." Despite strong public support, with nearly 25,000 submissions, the National Party remains the sole major political entity opposing the bill, citing "legal complexity" as their reasoning.


Public and Political Reactions

Anae criticised the National Party’s stance, warning that their continued opposition would not only tarnish their image domestically but also internationally. He emphasised the importance of addressing this issue with the urgency it deserves, reflecting the progress made globally in embracing diversity and inclusivity.


Hearings on the bill are scheduled to commence in Wellington and South Auckland, with additional requests for a hearing in Samoa due to substantial interest from the Samoan community.


Future Prospects

The bill has garnered support from NZ First leader Winston Peters, significantly boosting its chances of passing into law. Nonetheless, Anae and Tuiono remain cautious, recognising the complexities of the political process.


Anae expressed hope that the National Party would reconsider its position, highlighting the need for New Zealand to align with modern values and rectify past injustices.

For more information and updates, listen to RNZ Pacific Waves and follow the parliamentary hearings as they progress.


This article is based on a report by RNZ Pacific. For the original report, visit RNZ Pacific's website.

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Numera Samoa: +68525799

Numera NZ: +6421820594 fesili mo Maiava Leslie Wulf

O le tatou imeli: salesnz@smisamoa.ws

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