NZ to pay Samoans' school fees

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NZ to pay Samoans' school fees

3News NZ

John Key with Samoan PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

John Key with Samoan PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Prime Minister John Key has announced the New Zealand Government will pay the school fees of about 16,000 children in Samoa over the next three-to-five years.

Mr Key is in Apia to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the treaty of friendship between Samoa and New Zealand.

He says the gift is aimed at boosting the attendance rate of Samoa's high school students in years nine, 10 and 11.

Mr Key says the gift will cost the Government an estimated $5 million.

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Comments

29/01/2013 2:56:33 p.m.

babe wrote:

I'm a Samoan and I'm so thankful of what John Key did to my country. Even if I know that I'm like a slave in this country because of the kind of job that I have now with a very low rate, but I was waiting for ages of a day that New Zealand will agree to give a hand for Samoa especially in Education field. I know it's from the tax payers contribution, but I have to remind you people who are not agree with this,
Do good unto other's as you want other's to do the same unto you.Who knows that your little share of today can save a soul for tomorrow,Thank you New Zealand for funding Samoa's Education.

10/08/2012 4:18:51 p.m.

Gary wrote:

I have nothing against helping others if your own house is in good shape. But this is NZ tax payer money he is using where many NZrs are struggling to pay their own school fees. Not only that but he is making cuts and changes to NZ schools. I am sure that 5 Mil could easily be used in NZ schools, after all it is our money John. Friendship goes both ways you give and receive not just give that is called charity!

9/08/2012 10:48:43 a.m.

samoan wrote:

New Zealand and Samoa share a very special relationship that no other two nations in the world do. Its like our two countries are best friends, and best friends helped each other. This kind gesture by the New Zealand government reaffirms the strong ties we have and what better gift we could ask for than this. This assistance by the NZ will help a lot in the development of our country and I salute John Key for choosing to go for education!. .The possibility that our skilled workers to help with the reconstruction works for Christchurch will not only provide the assistance for NZ but for our people as well.

8/08/2012 11:42:23 p.m.

stu wrote:

Wat an effort but watch da prime minister eat dat money or use it for sum stupid project..people of samoa are suffering and he just kept on rising da prices for everything including school fees...my samoans people needs to vote for a better leadership to lead our country

4/08/2012 12:08:23 p.m.

Tasia wrote:

What's John Key is Trying to do now, This is one of his Games and the Samoa Prime Minister will eat the money as he always do. I hope our people don't fall for the scheme that John Keys is trying to do, Full our people to come and work for Christchurch in a cheap rate, Hope they are not silly enough to fall for his games.

2/08/2012 11:01:46 p.m.

Treaty of Friendship! wrote:

You all seem to forget the purpose of John Key's visit which was to reaffirm and celebrate the special relationship the two countries have through the Treaty of Friendship. Samoa is the only country in the world that has this special arrangement with NZ and the spirit of the agreement for both countries to work closely with each other and support each other. Samoans helped NZ in its need of labour shortage and still continues to this day in fruit orchards where Kiwi's do not want to fill these vacancies. To the same token NZ offers aid assistance to Samoa as part of helping the people and Government of Samoa to become self-sufficient and independent. It has done well to forge itself as politically stable country with a fast growing economy in the Pacific. Aid is inevitable for any small island state as they try and catch up with the rest of the world and it is in the donor's interests that they don't get left behind. And what's to say there are no strings attached to the aid given to Samoa. As for comments about Samoa's PM and corruption of the Govt, these have not been substantiated and quite frankly Samoa did not get all that money that was initially pledged which John Campbell stated on that report. As for the Manu Samoa saga, that report was out but it still was shady and no the PM was implicated in that debarcle but he did encourage donations in his capacity as Chairmen. Since then the SRU has been reformed and hopefully will see a good change in that debarcle. For now, $5million towards secondary education in Samoa is a token gesture for this 50th anniversary of Friendship. No matter where Samoa gets aid, they can never bargain Samoa's relationship with NZ which has strong mutual kinship, cultural and social ties which money cannot buy. It's a common joke that NZ is the fifth main island of Samoa given the sheer number of Samoans here.One thing's for sure, Samoans have contributed their hearts and soul to NZ to be where it is today!

2/08/2012 10:38:57 a.m.

cherie wrote:

GUTLESS Where is the outrage from the left!!!

2/08/2012 10:03:53 a.m.

Connolly wrote:

if i become a Samoa citzen will i get free education?

1/08/2012 10:35:20 p.m.

Matt wrote:

Didn't Samoa's president keep most of their national rugby team's money for himself when he pleaded on TV for donations? Who says he will pass the money over to his people? Come on!

1/08/2012 9:43:21 p.m.

Huang wrote:

As a taxpayer feeling the squeeze, I don't support john Key on this. But then I don't see any opposition MPs especially Green and Labour screaming over this either. It is all politics and PC. No party particularly the Greens want to be seen to be harsh on Pacifica. Key as the PM is just holding the can.