Independence Day of Samoa

On June 1, Samoa celebrates its independence. On January 1, 1962, the country declared independence from New Zealand, becoming the first Pacific island country to do so. The date was changed from January 1, 1962, to avoid the special celebration falling on New Year’s Day. Samoa is a Polynesian island made up of two major islands. Its capital city is Apia, its official languages are Samoan and English, and its population is estimated to be 198,410 as of 2020. Let’s get to know more about Samoa Independence Day in this article.

History Behind Samoa Independence Day:

The Samoan journey to independence began in 1961, with the signing of the Western Samoa Act. This friendship treaty was signed by New Zealand and the newly formed Samoan government. From 1899 to 1915, Samoa was under the control of the German Empire. For 45 years, it was ruled jointly by the British and the New Zealanders. New Zealand’s involvement in Samoa can be traced back to 1914, during World War I. Following a request from the British Government, New Zealand’s expeditionary force landed at Apia at the time. This action marked the end of German rule in Samoa and the start of a joint British and New Zealand colonial era.

New Zealand governed Western Samoa as a Class C Mandate under the trusteeship of the League of Nations, then the United Nations, from the end of World War I until 1962. Between 1919 and 1962, Samoa was administered by the Department of External Affairs, a government agency tasked with overseeing New Zealand’s Island Territories and Samoa. In 1943, the Department of External Relations was established to handle New Zealand’s overseas affairs. It was later renamed the Department of Island Territories. During New Zealand’s control, its administrators were responsible for two major incidents: the Spanish Flu Pandemic and the Mau Movement.

The first incident was the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed an estimated 22 percent of Samoa’s population, sparking grievances among local Samoans. This outbreak was caused by an unquarantined New Zealand ship that landed on Samoan shores. The second incident began with a peaceful protest by the Mau, which turned violent when police intervened and shot two of their leaders. At least ten people were killed that day, and 50 were injured as a result of police batons and gunshot wounds. In Samoa, that day is known as Black Saturday.

Timeline of Samoan Independence Day:

Time Period	Event	Description
1722	The First European Explorer	Dutch Navigator Jacob Roggeveen is the first European to explore Samoa.
1830	The London Missionary Society	The London Missionary Society arrives in Samoa, an interdenominational evangelical missionary society founded in England in 1795.
1914	Samoa is occupied by New Zealand.	Following WWI, New Zealand seizes Samoa from Germany on the orders of the British government.
1997	The Name Swap	Western Samoa drops the word “Western” from its name and is now simply known as Samoa.

Other Relevant Information Regarding Samoa Independence Day:

• Samoa is made up of two main islands, Savai and Upolu, as well as several smaller islands and islets.
• Samoa’s largest island is Savai, and its most populous island is Upolu.
• Approximately 60% of the country is forested.
• Mount Silisili, also known as Mauga Silisili, has the highest elevation of 1,858 meters/6096 feet.
• On the islands, there are numerous waterfalls and waterholes. To Sua, a 30 m/98 ft-deep waterhole, is one of Upolu’s most popular attractions.
• In 1962, Samoa declared independence from New Zealand.
• Apia, the capital city, has a population of about 38,000 people.
• Fire dances are popular among locals as well as tourists in Samoa. Siva and sasa are Samoan traditional dances.
• The Southern Cross Constellation with five stars is the national symbol, and the national colors are red, white, and blue.
• In 2011, Samoa skipped a day across the International Date Line. Since then, Samoa, along with Kiribati and Tonga, has been one of the first countries to welcome the New Year. The move was made to strengthen ties with Western business partners Australia and New Zealand, which were previously a day ahead.