21 August 2026
Rt Hon Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
New Zealand
Kia ora Prime Minister,
RE:
SERIOUS CONCERNS REGARDING THE SAMOAN PM STOPPING THE NZ PRIME MINISTER’S FELLOWSHIP OFFERED TO MAIAVA ATALINA AINUU-ENARI, GOVERNOR OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF SAMOA.
As a member of the Samoan community in New Zealand and the wider diaspora. I write to express our grave concerns regarding reports that the Government of Samoa prevented Maiava Atalina Ainuu-Enari, Governor of the Central Bank of Samoa, from taking up a New Zealand Prime Minister’s Fellowship for which she has reportedly been selected.
I recognise, of course, that New Zealand must respect Samoa’s sovereignty and should exercise appropriate caution before commenting upon its internal political affairs. Equally, however, where a fellowship is extended under the auspices of the New Zealand Government, and particularly where the recipient occupies an office whose independence is fundamental to sound economic governance, New Zealand has a legitimate interest in ensuring that the purpose and integrity of that fellowship are respected.
The circumstances surrounding the apparent attempt to prevent Maiava from taking up the fellowship are particularly troubling because they arise against a wider background of reported tensions concerning the independence and governance of the Central Bank of Samoa.
There appears to be an increasing perception that the present Samoan Government is dissatisfied with the Governor and with the degree of institutional independence exercised by the Central Bank. If the reported opposition to Maiava taking up the New Zealand fellowship is connected, directly or indirectly, with attempts to pressure her from office or to influence the independent discharge of her statutory responsibilities, that would raise issues extending well beyond an ordinary disagreement between a government and a public official.
A central bank governor must be capable of providing independent economic and monetary advice, including advice which a government may find inconvenient or disagreeable. The credibility of a central bank depends substantially upon markets, businesses, international institutions and the public having confidence that monetary and regulatory decisions are being made according to law and sound economic principles rather than political direction.
It is therefore concerning if participation in an international fellowship offered by a close bilateral partner is being obstructed because of wider political dissatisfaction with the Governor.
Many of us are particularly concerned that the present situation could be viewed as part of a broader attempt to undermine the institutional independence of the Central Bank of Samoa and ultimately to create circumstances in which the incumbent Governor feels compelled to resign.
These concerns should not be dismissed as simply an internal Samoan political matter. New Zealand and Samoa enjoy an exceptionally close and longstanding relationship. New Zealand also has a legitimate interest in promoting good governance, strong public institutions and economic stability throughout the Pacific.
I therefore respectfully ask your government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the New Zealand High Commission in Apia, to establish the circumstances surrounding the Samoan Government’s reported decision to prevent Maiava from taking up the fellowship.
In particular, I ask that consideration be given to the following, and respond back to the Samoan community in NZ and the diaspora through my office:
- whether Maiava was formally selected or invited to participate in the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Fellowship and the status of that invitation;
- whether the Government of Samoa has communicated with the New Zealand Government, MFAT or the New Zealand High Commission concerning her participation;
- whether NZ has received any correspondence from the Samoan Government to prevent or discourage her participation;
- whether those reasons raise concerns regarding inappropriate political pressure upon the Governor or the institutional independence of the Central Bank of Samoa; and
- whether the New Zealand Government remains willing to honour the fellowship offered to Maiava should she be permitted and remain willing to participate.
We would also respectfully encourage the New Zealand Government to make clear, through appropriate diplomatic channels, that the selection of a distinguished Samoan public official for a New Zealand fellowship should not become collateral damage in an internal disagreement concerning the independence or performance of that official.
This is not an invitation for New Zealand to interfere in Samoa’s domestic politics. Rather, it is a request that New Zealand protects the integrity of its own fellowship programme while continuing to uphold principles which both countries should share good governance, institutional independence, transparency and respect for the rule of law.
Samoa is entitled to determine its own economic policies through its democratically elected Government. That principle does not, however, mean that institutions deliberately established to exercise independent statutory functions should be subjected to political pressure merely because their professional judgment does not accord with the Government’s preferred economic direction.
If the Governor’s position is being placed under pressure because she has insisted upon exercising the independence expected of her office, that should be a matter of genuine concern to Samoa’s international partners.
The Central Bank of Samoa is too important an institution for questions surrounding its independence to become entangled in political disagreement. Likewise, the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Fellowship should continue to represent an opportunity for professional and institutional development and the strengthening of relations between our two countries.
I therefore respectfully request that you seek an urgent briefing from MFAT on this matter and, if the reported circumstances are confirmed, consider raising New Zealand’s concerns through the appropriate diplomatic channels with the Government of Samoa.
I would appreciate your response confirming the position of the New Zealand Government regarding Maiava’s fellowship and whether New Zealand remains committed to enabling her to take up the opportunity for which she has been selected.
Kia pai to ra,
Sala Pulotu Canada Alofa McCarthy
CTV Media (NZ and Australia)
Editor’s Note:
The views expressed in Letters to the Editor are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Samoa Newshub.
