Samoa Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development in Samoa.
The initiative is a response to key issues identified that cause unnecessary spending on Samoan ceremonies such as funerals, weddings and title bestowals that has had a huge impact on the social welfare and well being of Samoans everywhere.
New Zealand Samoans do take out high interest loans to fund such cultural activities back in Samoa and some have gone the extra stretch to secure further goods on loan from local wholesalers to meet family expectations.
Some have been unable to return to New Zealand as their families were not able to pay the expenses on time after the ceremony. The two day community consultation will be on April 7 and 9 at the Malaeola ma Nafoaga Hall in Auckland.
According to Pa’u Teleiai Su’atapulolo’o Fereti Puni of the organizing committee, “Very disturbing is the impact on Samoans living in NZ especially Auckland where families in Samoa literally rely for fa’alavelave. This practice has imposed on the welfare of Samoan families overseas and has left many families in dire strait with some resorting to crime as a means.”
