Samoa confirms Luxon did not request matai title

Samoa's government has confirmed the Prime Minister did not request his matai title after all.

Christopher Luxon is in Apia for a bilateral meeting with his counterpart La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, where he is also set to be bestowed the matai title Tuisinavemaulumoto'otua.

La'aulialemalietoa had initially claimed New Zealand's High Commissioner had told him Luxon had requested he be given a title.

Luxon's office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/589637/prime-minister-s-office-denies-christopher-luxon-requested-samoan-matai-title

denied that was the case].

On Monday, the government of Samoa released a statement confirming neither Luxon nor his representatives requested a title.

"A title bestowal for visiting leaders is a traditional courtesy to be extended by the Government of Samoa. In this regard it was always the Government's intention to extend this honour to Prime Minister Luxon," the statement said.

La'aulialemalietoa had also suggested it would be a "perfect first act of service" for Luxon to endorse and implement the petition calling for visa waivers for Samoans arriving in New Zealand.

"One's duty as a matai Samoa, is to serve Samoa," is reported to have said.

But the statement said it was never intended the bestowal of a matai title would place an obligation on Luxon, with respect to New Zealand government decisions - including on immigration policy.

Luxon has previously met with La'aulialemalietoa in November, it was more of a courtesy call while the Samoan prime minister was in New Zealand.

Luxon expected the matter of improving visa access would be raised with him during this visit, and has pointed to recent announcements around faster, easier, and cheaper visa access, longer visa durations, and a trial for Pacific passport holders travelling from Australia with an Australian visa to enter New Zealand on the NZeTA.