Samoa’s PM tells Christopher Luxon to ignore negativity on social media over matai title

The Prime Ministers of Samoa and New Zealand hold a press conference after a Cabinet meeting in Apia. Photo / Julia Gabel

Samoa’s Prime Minister has told Christopher Luxon to ignore the social media “nonsense” over the New Zealand Prime Minister’s new matai title.

The comments are the Samoan leader’s first acknowledgement of the days-long debacle surrounding Luxon’s matai title.

Luxon is visiting Samoa’s Prime Minister, La’aulialemalietoa Polataivao Leuatea Fosi Schmidt, for a two-day trip before flying tomorrow to Tonga.

Luxon received his prestigious matai title today after a traditional ava ceremony held in front of Apia’s Government house.

Before Luxon’s arrival, the Samoan Prime Minister told local media Luxon had requested the matai title via New Zealand’s High Commissioner.

The leaders of Samoa and New Zealand during a Cabinet meeting addressing a joint response to drug crime in the Pacific. Photo / Sam Sachdeva

However, since then, Luxon’s office and the Ministry of Foreign and Affairs strenuously rejected the claims.

The Samoan Government issued a statement quoting Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa, also confirming the claims were incorrect.

Luxon wanted to move on from the debacle during a press conference in Apia today, telling media: “I appreciate there was some miscommunication [but] we are beyond that, that is done, finished, in my mind”.

That evening, at a state dinner for Luxon and his delegation, the Samoan Prime Minister raised the issue again.

In response to apparent dissent in Samoa and on social media over Luxon receiving the title, the leader said: “do not worry about the nonsense on Facebook, let the village of Apia sort it out and handle it with respect”.

“It is normal for us here.”

Luxon’s matai title is “Tuisinavemaulumotootua”, which refers to Luxon as the head or king – “tui” - of two traditional meeting grounds in Apia, “Sinavema” and “ulumotootua”.

PM Christopher Luxon stands with wife Amanda Luxon (left), Samoa PM La’aulialemalietoa Polataivao Leuatea Fosi Schmidt (centre right) and his wife Tupea Heather Schmidt, during a traditional ava ceremony to formalise the bestowal of Luxon's matai title. Photo / Julia Gabel

Aupito William Sio, a former minister under the previous Labour Government, said non-Samoan Prime Ministers and politicians being honoured has become more common in recent times.

“Aupito” is a matai title as well.

This, Sio said, had caused debate and dissent, particularly among younger generations who questioned the appropriateness of non-Samoans receiving the title in an “easy” way when that title was so sacred to them as the “true heirs”.

For them, he said, they earned their title after generations of commitment within their community and family, and were not necessarily happy seeing leaders from other countries receive the title by bypassing that genealogical connection.

Being bestowed with a matai title brings with it responsibilities.

Although some politicians who receive a matai title “love using it on [election] campaign periods, but very little is seen of them”, there are expectations that the receiver continues “serving the community that gave you the matai title”, Sio said.

Luxon is the sixth New Zealand Prime Minister to receive a matai title after Sir Robert Muldoon (Leasapai) and David Lange (Tagaloa) in the 80s, Jim Bolger in 1997 (Nanai), Sir John Key in 2009 (Toosavili) and Sir Bill English in 2017 (Leuluali’iotumua).

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was given the matai title Vaovasamanaia in 2007.

Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.