NZ Governor-General visits Samoa for independence celebrations

Apia, SAMOA — The New Zealand Governor-General is visitomg Samoa in celebration of their 60th year of independence.

Dame Cindy Kiro will be in Samoa until Thursday, and will meet with Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, as well as the Head of State.

The Governor-General willl also attend a number of independence day events including the re-launch of the Save the Manumea campaign, which helps Samoan communities work together to save the country's national bird.

She will also visit village communities and celebrate the contributions of two of her patronage organizations: Volunteer Service Abroad and the Fred Hollows Foundation.

AIR NEW ZEALAND TO ADD MORE FLIGHTS TO SAMOA

In the meantime, Air New Zealand will add more flights to the Auckland-Apia route as demand from passengers increases.

The airline's Karen Gatt told the Samoa Observer that they will be increasing flights in October.

She says there had been "exceptionally high demand" for travel to Samoa from New Zealand since the borders reopened on 1 August 2022.

Air New Zealand will begin operating an extra five flights a week from October and daily from November over the busy Christmas period.

Samoan families have expressed frustration at the inability of family members to travel home from Auckland with a growing backlog of waiting passengers as well as high fare costs.