Independence
Following a May 1961 plebiscite and a November 1961 UN General Assembly vote to end the trusteeship, the Independent State of Western Samoa Act ended New Zealand's powers over the country on 1 January 1962, making it the first Pacific island state to gain independence.[1]
· Declaration
Independence of Western Samoa, 1962
Western Samoa became independent from New Zealand on 1 January 1962 under the Independent State of Western Samoa Act, 1961, following a UN-requested plebiscite and a UN General Assembly vote to end the trusteeship, becoming the first Pacific island state to gain independence.
On 1 August 1962 the two countries signed a Treaty of Friendship under which New Zealand would, when requested, act as Samoa's diplomatic channel of communication abroad, without impairing Samoa's right to formulate its own foreign policy.[2]
· Agreement
Treaty of Friendship between Samoa and New Zealand, 1962
Signed 1 August 1962, the Treaty of Friendship provided that New Zealand would, when requested, act as Samoa's diplomatic channel of communication with other governments and international organisations, without impairing Samoa's right to formulate its own foreign policy.
United Nations membership
The Security Council recommended Samoa's UN membership on 1 December 1976, and the General Assembly admitted Samoa on 15 December 1976.[3][4]
· Recognition
Admission of Samoa to the United Nations, 1976
The Security Council recommended Western Samoa's admission to the United Nations on 1 December 1976, and the General Assembly admitted it on 15 December 1976, nearly fifteen years after independence.
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
-
1.
Claim: Western Samoa had been administered by New Zealand from 1920, first under a League of Nations Mandate and from 1946 under a UN Trusteeship Agreement charging New Zealand with promoting "the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants and their progressive development towards self-government or independence." At the request of the United Nations, a plebiscite was held in May 1961 in which an overwhelming majority of Samoans voted for independence; in November 1961 the General Assembly voted unanimously to end the trusteeship, and the New Zealand Parliament passed the Independent State of Western Samoa Act, formally ending New Zealand's powers on 1 January 1962, accompanied by a Treaty of Friendship guaranteeing New Zealand assistance in foreign affairs and defence.
- EBSCO Research Starters, Western Samoa Gains Independence from New Zealand (EBSCO, 1 January 1962) link, article text. Source record
-
2.
Claim: The Treaty of Friendship between New Zealand and Western Samoa, signed 1 August 1962, provided that New Zealand would help Samoa conduct its international relations "in such a manner as will in no way impair the right of the Government of Western Samoa to formulate its own foreign policies," and that, when requested, New Zealand would act as Samoa's diplomatic channel of communication with other governments and international organisations and as its representative at certain conferences.
- Government of New Zealand and Government of Western Samoa, New Zealand Treaty Series 1962, No. 5: Treaty of Friendship between New Zealand and Western Samoa (New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 1 August 1962) link, treaty text. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
-
3.
Claim: On 1 December 1976, at its 1977th meeting, the Security Council, having examined the application of Western Samoa, unanimously recommended to the General Assembly that it be admitted to UN membership.
- United Nations Security Council, Security Council resolution 399 (1976) (United Nations, 1 December 1976) link, resolution text. Source record
-
4.
Claim: The General Assembly, at its 100th plenary meeting on 15 December 1976, having received the Security Council's recommendation and considered Western Samoa's application, decided to admit the Independent State of Western Samoa to United Nations membership.
- United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly resolution 31/104: Admission of the Independent State of Western Samoa to membership in the United Nations (United Nations, 15 December 1976) link, operative paragraph. Source record
Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/samoa/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.