Sources: RNZI
New Zealand announces that it has paid a NZ$6 million compensation to Samoa over the sinking of the HMNZS "Manawanui" off the coast of Upolu in October 2024. 2025-10-6
Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS "Manawanui" runs aground off the coast of Samoa before catching fire and later capsizing. All 75 crew members are evacuated onto lifeboats and rescued. It is the first loss of a New Zealand naval ship at sea since World War II. 2024-10-5
Samoa extends the state of emergency until September 27. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi says he fears the practice of congregating in large numbers would likely see the virus entering the (at this time) COVID-19-free country. 2020-08-29
Tonga and Fiji declare a state of emergency as part of an ongoing measles outbreak. Conditions worsen in Samoa where the death toll continues to rise and schools remain closed. There are 1,797 confirmed cases as of Saturday, with 153 detected on Friday alone. 2019-11-23
Samoa confirms that 20 persons, all but one under the age of four, have died of measles, and 11 more are in critical condition. Authorities recorded 1,644 cases since the outbreak began last month. 2019-11-22
Three suspects appear in court in Apia, Samoa, where two of them enter not-guilty pleas and the other a guilty plea on charges of conspiracy to assassinate the Prime Minister of Samoa. The defendant who pleaded guilty is due to be sentenced on September 30. 2019-09-9
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security discontinues the eligibility of citizens of Belize, Haiti, and Samoa to obtain H-2A and H-2B visas for temporary work. 2018-01-17
Samoa's Legislative Assembly appoints Tuimalealiifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II as O le Ao o le Malo, or Head of State. He will succeed Tufuga Efi, the country's head of state since 2007, on July 25. 2017-07-5
Samoan authorities prepared for Severe Tropical Cyclone Amos which is forecast to make landfall later tonight. 2016-04-23
The Pacific Island nations of Samoa and Tokelau move from east to west of the International Date Line in order to align their time zone better with their main trading partners, meaning that they will not mark December 30 this year. 2011-12-29