Samoa declares 'economic emergency' over budget crisis

Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Samoa's head of state has declared a 30-day state of emergency due to a financial crisis triggered by the failure to pass an Approbriation Bill, as outlined under the country's constitution. Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a...

Samoa Observer part of ABC program

The Samoa Observer recently took part in the inaugural executive leadership program delivered by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation International Development (ABCID), designed to bring together senior media leaders from across the Pacific and...

Naut shows off its latest electric propulsion system for boats, clocks up offshore sales

The firm also makes an outboard, but the demonstrator is built around its latest onboard system. “We want people to feel the power and experience the peace that comes with it, and then imagine it in the boat of their choice,” Naut co-founder and...

Growth in the Pacific to accelerate to 4.1 percent in 2025,...

Economic growth in the Pacific is projected to accelerate to 4.1 percent in 2025 and moderate to 3.4 percent in 2026, according to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2025, the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) flagship economic...

Samoa will not pull out of seasonal work schemes

Samoa Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has confirmed that the government will not halt Samoa’s participation in seasonal work schemes overseas. But he has stressed that strong and clear safeguards must be established to protect...

Sink or swim: Can island states survive the climate crisis?

Small island nations across the world are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis, and their problems have been accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely affected their economies, and their capacity to protect themselves from...

Samoa validates its NDC 3.0 reaffirmingits leadership under the Paris Agreement

The Government of Samoa, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) has successfully hosted the validation workshop of Samoa’s Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), marking a defining moment in Samoa’s climate...

Samoa validates its NDC 3.0, reaffirming its leadership under the Paris Agreement

The Government of Samoa, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) has successfully hosted the validation workshop of Samoa’s Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), marking a defining moment in Samoa’s climate...

Extremely offline: what happened when a Pacific island was cut off from the internet | Samanth Subramanian

For a while, Sam Vea had been smelling sulphur on the air – only mildly infernal, like a distant sniff of hell, but sulphur nonetheless. Still, on the Saturday evening when the explosion happened, he sat up in fright. It sounded so near he thought...

Samoa PM undergoing medical treatment in NZ

Samoa Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt departed on a private chartered plane on Sunday, for medical treatment in Auckland, New Zealand, at the expense of his family. A government statement said the cabinet secured medical...

What Pacific Island leaders told the UN about climate, conflict and peace

A banner at UN Headquarters on the second day of the general debate of the General Assembly’s eightieth session. Photo: UN Photo / Loey Felipe Pacific Island leaders took turns addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York,...

Samoa PM gives assurance he’s okay

Samoa Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has assured that he is in stable condition after being admitted to Middlemore Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand, over the weekend. He told viewers via Facebook link that he was “okay” and...

Who is Samoa's new prime minister, Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Fosi Schmidt?

Apia, SAMOA — Lauano Aukuso Ah Ching sees the divine at work in the landslide election win that brought Samoa's new prime minister to power. He gets emotional as he describes Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Fosi Schmidt's victory, or, as he describes...

Laauli’s Israel stance puts Sāmoa on shaky legal ground

Laauli’s Support of Israel: The Legal Implications At his first meeting with Cabinet ministers and heads of ministries last week, Samoa’s new Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt declared Samoa’s unwavering support for...

Samoa’s new cabinet approves use of an “Emergency Budget”

Apia, SAMOA — (September 18, 2025) A Treasury Office report has revealed that the government has just enough funds left in the salary item of the national budget to cover one more week of wages for public servants. However, the report noted that...

Head of State Issues Proclamation of Emergency while Awaiting Parliament to Pass Budget

By: Jasmine Netzler-Iose, Government Press. Head of State Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Eti Sualauvi II has issued a Proclamation of Emergency under Article 105 of the Constitution of the Independent State of Samoa 1960. Signed on the 26 day...

Samoa PM in New Zealand for medical treatment

Samoa’s Prime Minister, Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Leuatea Fosi Schmidt, has left the country for medical treatment in New Zealand. The Government said, “Prime Minister, Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Leuatea Fosi Schmidt left Samoa Sunday 21...

Samoa’s Prime Minister In New Zealand for Medical Treatment

Newly sworn in Prime Minister of Samoa Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Leautea Fosi Schmidt alongside his wife is in New Zealand for the week for medical treatment. In a written statement released by the government of Samoa, the Prime Minister left...

Samoa's new prime minister flies to NZ for medical treatment within days of taking office

Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Leuatea Fosi Schmidt Photo: Samoa Parliament Samoa's newly elected prime minister is New Zealand for medical treatment. In a statement, the Samoan government said Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Leuatea Fosi Schmidt...

Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti sets sail to Samoa

A group of voyagers have spent the last ten years preparing for their journey to Samoa, guided by the traditional navigation methods of their ancestors. This week, they will set sail aboard the waka hourua Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti on their voyage, Te...