New Zealand names new representative to Samoa and Am Samoa

Auckland, NEW ZEALAND — New Zealand’s incoming High Commissioner to Samoa, Si’alei Van Toor, will make history as the first person of Samoan heritage appointed to the role and being accredited as New Zealand’s Consul-General to neighboring American Samoa.

Born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, High Commissioner Van Toor’s maternal grandparents arrived separately in New Zealand during the 1940s, where they would eventually meet and marry. Philip Dunn from the village of Matautu (Falealili) and Florence Coffin from Saoluafata.

This will be the third ‘Head of Mission’ posting for the mother of two, having been New Zealand’s representative to Taiwan and ambassador to Russia prior. Si’alei has also spent over a decade of her career working in diplomatic assignments in Beijing, China. The diplomat starts her posting next month and says Samoa will provide many opportunities, including exploring her cultural heritage.

“I’m really looking forward to working in this role. New Zealand and Samoa share a deep and multifaceted relationship based on extensive people-to-people, sports, business and cultural links, and close historical ties. The framework for the relationship is strong based on the Treaty of Friendship of 1962 and the 2019 Statement of Partnership. I look forward to leading the New Zealand High Commission to maintain and develop the relationship further still.

“On a more personal note, being able to live and learn more and discover my culture and have that time to really delve into it and understand it with some depth… it's an incredible opportunity.”