Samoa focuses on asset management and rugby administration challenges

Samoan Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataʻivao Fosi Schmidt has called for a more commercially minded approach to managing Samoa’s government-owned assets in New Zealand. During a visit to Wellington, the Prime Minister met with the Samoa High Commission to discuss the stewardship of properties and assets, emphasizing that these should be viewed as strategic national investments capable of generating long-term value and sustainable returns for the people of Samoa.

Separately, Lakapi Samoa CEO Seumanu Douglas Ngau Chun has warned that the national rugby team, Manu Samoa, faces potential dissolution if the Samoan government does not accept a proposed World Rugby review. The government recently withdrew recognition and financial support from Lakapi Samoa, launching a rival union instead. Seumanu stated that failure to accept the review could lead to sanctions from the global governing body, resulting in a loss of funding and the end of rugby in the country.