Former Samoa High Commissioner to New Zealand Fe'esago George Fepuleai believes that racism against Samoans persists despite efforts to strengthen ties between Samoa and its former colonisers.

He made the remarks as he reminisced about the events surrounding the enactment of the Western Samoa Citizenship Act 1982 during his tenure.

As the passage of the first reading of a private members' bill aimed at repealing a discriminatory law against a specific group of Samoans in New Zealand progresses, Fe'esago delved into the atmosphere of racism that permeated New Zealand's political landscape in 1982. 

He recalled the fervent opposition and legal battles faced by the Samoan community against the unjust legislation, which denied automatic citizenship rights to Samoans born during New Zealand's colonial administration of Samoa.

The 87-year-old highlighted the significance of the Treaty of Friendship signed between Samoa and New Zealand, portraying it as a mere formality to meet United Nations requirements as Samoa prepared for independence. 

Despite initial resistance, he commended the resilience of the Samoan community, who, rather than resorting to unlawful means, worked within the legal system to challenge the discriminatory law.

In a poignant reflection on the struggle, Fe'esago recalled a speech he delivered in 1982, praising the determination of the Samoan people to participate in the democratic process, as evidenced by the overwhelming response to the call for submissions on the Citizenship Act. 

He emphasised the importance of Samoans engaging fully in the political processes of their adopted homeland, thereby asserting their rights and cultural values.

"They could have gone outside the law and broken the law, but instead they stayed within and worked the system," Fe'esago remarked.

"It was a costly road for many of you, and I'm sure there were times when you all wondered whether it was worth the effort. But in the end the system, as it is given to doing in the face of persistence, came up trumps in the form of a Privy Council decision. 

"Those who had worked the system won in the end. Much has happened in the two months following that celebrated judgment that has forever changed New Zealand and has added yet another page to New Zealand-Samoa relations. 

"Many of you will debate the merits of particular events since then, and no doubt some of you may even feel that in the end, you lost. I do not want to go over the particular events, but one thing that does stand out in my mind takes me back to my earlier appeal for Samoans to take a fuller part of this society. 

"When the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Bill came into the New Zealand parliament, only a very short time was given to people to prepare submissions for the select committee considering the bill. 

"As it was a complex piece of legislation, I suspect that many of the politicians on the committee did not expect much of a response to the call for submission. In the event, in a powerful display of people exercising democratic rights, 62 Samoan individuals and groups from around the country made submissions. 

"I think many New Zealanders were staggered by the scale of what Samoans had done, and I'm sure they were impressed. 

"There, for everybody to see on television, were hundreds of our people filing into Parliament - most I would think, for the first time - to take an active and full part in the democratic process of this nation. 

"In expressing a Samoan view the people who appeared in the Legislative Chamber were not only doing the very New Zealand thing of making their voice heard before their MPs, but they were also displaying the value and culture of the fa'a-Samoa. 

"Many of you may well find disagreement with the final form of the Citizenship Act, but that is not the point, the point is that the Samoan people took part in the highest political processes of this nation and I think you will find that many New Zealanders, certainly the politicians, will not forget that. 

"Next time they will appreciate, at a much earlier stage, that 40,000 Samoan people have a point of view and that they want to take part."

While refraining from commenting on recent developments in New Zealand regarding MP Teanau Tuiono's bill, Fe'esago remains resolute in his belief that racism persists despite efforts to strengthen bilateral ties. 

He acknowledges ongoing challenges faced by Samoans, particularly regarding visa applications, but expresses optimism in the enduring power of the rule of law to prevail over prejudice.

Reflecting on Samoa's political stability amidst challenges, Fe'esago emphasised the nation's resilience in upholding its core values amid adversity. 

He concludes with a message of pride in Samoa's ability to navigate crises with dignity and composure, underscoring the enduring strength of its culture and governance.