Many will socialise with their family and friends on a regular basis, particularly on Sundays after attending church services. The Samoan language is a cherished symbol of cultural identity for many Samoans. and Population Census. You are on the verge of making an overseas move to the beautiful islands of Samoa. Matai are also seen as spiritual caretakers of all those who fall under their authority. A Samoan becomes the Matai of a village through the complex and sophisticated hierarchical Matai system, which includes an election by consensus. New Zealand and Samoa continue to have a close relationship and share a vision for a prosperous and resilient Samoa with a skilled and healthy Samoan population. Traditionally, a tatau was a symbol of one’s status and social rank as well as a rite of passage from adolescence to adulthood. The process of creating a tatau is often prolonged and painful, sometimes taking a few months to complete. All other statistical information on the demographics of the migrant The three main pillars of Fa’a Samoa are the matai (chiefs), aiga (extended family), and the Christian church. Rapid change is occurring within Samoan culture in New Zealand as second and third generations are born and raised here. Each tatau is unique, containing geometrical patterns and embedded symbols as well as carrying special meanings for the wearer of the tatau. Most people will visit a local tufuga (tattoo artist) in their early adult years to gain their tatau. The vast majority of Samoans possess Polynesian heritage, with approximately 96% identifying as ethnically Samoan as of 2011.1 Another 2% identify with a mix of Samoan and New Zealand ancestry, while 1.9% identify with some other ethnicity.2 Samoan society is generally free of ethnic tension, largely as a result of homogeneity and a history of intermarriage that has blurred distinctive ethnic boundaries. The central element in Samoan culture is the aiga (family). The main sports played in Samoa are rugby union and Samoan cricket (kilikiti). Smoking You can find a direct link to all these sources under the ‘References’ are out-dated, unavailable, unreliable, or the country’s The status of Matai is highly respected among the community. Samoan also has a polite variant used in formal communication and a colloquial form used in daily communication. The first is the high chief of the country, village or family – known as the Ali’i. Supply of alcohol to under-18s | Health Promotion Agency. Fa’a Samoa refers to a complex cultural code that guides and teaches individuals on how to lead their life. Some have learnt it through their jobs, or by helping their elders deal with schools and government authorities. Teuila is a symbol of Samoan culture and is commemorated through the Teuila Festival, one of Samoa’s most celebrated annual events. New Zealand was ill-equipped to cope with the Western Samoa mandate it was allocated by the League of Nations in 1920. In 2013, 56% of people of Samoan ethnicity could speak Samoan (down from 64% in 2001), although only about 40% were born in Samoa. Most Samoan-born migrants speak the Samoan language fluently. Previously known as Western Samoa up until 1997, Samoa gained independence from New Zealand in 1962 after more than a century of foreign influence. The exhibition 'Entangled Islands' chronicles the relationship between New Zealand and Samoa, the bad and better times, and how it's changed both countries. While the nuances of the Matai system are difficult to articulate, the title of Matai is generally passed down from parent to child or given based on the view that the recipient will best serve the family or village. New Zealand's administration of Samoa, 1920-35. unless otherwise stated. Most Samoans have lived in coastal villages and continue to do so, with about four-fifths of the population located in rural areas. For 1956, this meant that one out of every 30 persons born in Western Samoa was residing in New Zealand. Thompson, Pausa Kaio. The New Zealand Government supports Samoa to foster economic development and adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The importance of fa’aaloalo is evident in a number of ways. A 2002 article from ESPN estimated that a Samoan male (either an American Samoan, or a Samoan living in the 50 United States) is 40 times more likely to play in the NFL than a non-Samoan American. Join over 300 organisations already creating a better workplace. A new place is beckoning.But what do you know about Samoan culture and traditions? Conversely, Apia (the capital city) contains approximately one-fifth of Samoa’s population. For example, Christian values and beliefs that were brought to the island in the 19th century have been integrated into fa’a Samoa. (indicating when these statistics were last updated). New Zealand born parents used less discipline and had ‘other’ ways of disciplining their children, like time out and withdrawal of privileges whereas Samoan born parents used swift, harsh punishment. There’s a ‘third gender’ in Samoa. In Census 2013, over a third (35.7 percent) of Pacific peoples were aged under 15 years, compared with only a fifth (20.4 percent) of the total population The Ali’i are often understood as ‘sitting chiefs’ because they are typically responsible for the most important aspects of Samoan culture and are generally the decision-makers. tab at the bottom of the page, as well as the date this profile was published For New Zealand-born Samoans, fluency is not important to identity; it is enough that they understand the language, communicate with their island-born family, and adopt their parents’ fa‘asamoa beliefs. For example, youth are expected to defer to elders and those of higher status. The relative quiet of New Zealand's wartime administration was shattered by a devastating influenza pandemic in November 1918, which killed approximately 8500 Samoans, about 22% of the population.For survivors, the disaster, and especially the administration's bumbling response to it, was seared into memory. linguistic, religious and ethnic demographics are based on While village and city life differ in terms of work and lifestyle, there are general similarities across both settings. For New Zealand-born Samoans, fluency is not important to identity; it is enough that they understand the language, communicate with their island-born family, and adopt their parents’ fa‘asamoa beliefs. For many, living in the city is temporary as they often intend to return to their village later. In contemporary Australia, the size of the Samoan community may be underestimated due to migration via New Zealand. What remains constant is maintaining the family and links with the homeland. Misatauveve Melani Anae, 'Samoans - Culture and identity', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/samoans/page-3 (accessed 6 February 2021), Story by Misatauveve Melani Anae, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 25 Mar 2015. In the 1970s, educational programs sponsored by Australia increased the number of Samoans migrating. Nearly all tatau relate to an individual’s ancestry; thus, it is believed that by wearing the tatau, one is respecting and upholding their family and heritage. The vast majority of Samoans possess Polynesian heritage, with approximately 96% identifying as ethnically Samoan as of 2011. While most Samoans uphold rules and traditions underpinning fa’a Samoa, Samoan families living abroad may have a more relaxed approach towards cultural protocols. University of Arizona Press. Not every Samoan has the same understanding of the concept. The term ‘fa’a Samoa’ translates into English as ‘the Samoan Way’. Modern-day Samoans are often friendly and respectful people who are proud of their heritage. Land. The Matai was traditionally male, but nowadays women can gain leadership status. Money, prayers, support, food, material goods, and even relatives themselves, circulate within families around the world – wherever Samoan people live and work. essentially unchanged since 1962, New Zealand's immigration policy gives preferential treatment to Western Samoans and recognizes their valuable labor contribution. After occupying German Samoa at the outbreak of the First World War, the New Zealand administration was blamed for mishandling the 1918 influenza pandemic, which killed more than one-fifth of the … However, Samoans maintained the tradition. You will be redirected to our payment portal. Commercial re-use may be allowed on request. For many, adhering to fa’a Samoa is closely associated with honouring one’s family. A New Zealand-based Samoan chief has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for human trafficking and using 13 of his countrymen as slaves over a 25-year period. Samoans in NZ keep culture alive From Dateline Pacific, 4:01 am on 29 May 2017 Samoans living in New Zealand continue to practice many of their cultural traditions but not without challenges. The concept of fa‘asamoa is essential to Samoan identity, and consists of a number of values and traditions: There are also the associated values of alofa (love), tautua (service), fa‘aaloalo (respect), feagaiga (a covenant between sibilings and others) and usita‘i (discipline). Although some Samoan values and customs have changed since the country came into contact with Europe, Samoans continue to strive to preserve fa’a Samoa. Cooperation and consensus are also common principles that influence interactions with others. Victoria University of Wellington. the most recent global estimates cited in the CIA World Factbook. The individual will tell the tufuga about themselves, their family and their ancestry. Individuals in the aiga are expected to be generous with their possessions and prioritise the interests of the group or community over their own. The legal age for buying alcohol in New Zealand is 18. Fa’a Samoa - the Samoan way – is a way of life that stretches back more than 3,000 years and is reflected in every aspect of Samoa’s communal society. You can download this cultural profile in an easy-to-read PDF 2013. On the other hand, older members appreciate these concepts because they are now receiving tautua and fa‘aaloalo from their children and extended family. Samoan is closely related to Maori, Tahitian, Hawaiian and Tongan languages. All text licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 New Zealand Licence unless otherwise stated. Others pick up Samoan through membership in the autalavou (church youth group). 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