So what is the fuss all about? Now family in Samoa can ask for cars from relatives in New Zealand and Australia. So now it's not only about the money! Isn't that a good thing? or is it? I'm trying to figure out where the mentality comes from that those of us living in New Zealand and Australia have a lot of money? Somewhere along the line Samoans have been sucked into believing Australian and New Zealand Samoans are wealthy which is not the case for the majority of us. If anything family in Samoa have more oppurtunity and avenues to increase thier income thanks to the tourist industry and predicted growth but...BUT this is not the case! Why? You can't keep on asking for handouts with one hand while sitting on a potential goldmind.

The cost of living in New Zealand and Australia is expensive and many of us Samoans are either unemployed, on a Governement Subsidised income or on low wages. It's a fact! Yet we are asked to provide for those over in Samoa. The Governement in Samoa should be leading by example and look at creating oppurtunities and ways of empowering our people to be truelly independent!......We may have gained our Independence as a Nation but the Government is still dependent on foriegn handouts!.....Wheres the sense of Samoa pride?

The Governement is prepared to accept western scholaships and education so please please please...accept us western educated Samoans in Samoa to grow and develop Samoa into a thriving economy!.....

Soifua

The Samoan Fella

What is the point of having a 'Special Parliamentary Committee' considering the petition when the law is already passed?.. waste of tax payers money

What guarantees relatives in NZ will send cars to Samoa when the reports in Parliament recently reveal a dropped in oversea remittance?... hardship in NZ and Australia are at similar level with Samoa

Climate change has adversely affected the soils in NZ and Australia which caused money trees to no longer survive in today's weather....

A confused samoan

I'm so happy to read this article about allowing us to send right hand car to samoa.
I wanted to send my car for my family before but it was NO GO at the time, they stopped it.

Now they say YES again I'm so happy, i can be able to send a car for my family.
Faafetai lava

Happy samoan teine
in brisbane australia

wondering if my relatives in Aussire and NZ have a right hand drive horse for me... thinking of the cost of filling a car at the gas station these days brought the idea to mind...would love to have a right hand drive horse to help me work my land at the talaloa of my village.

I think the switch is a really good idea especially the majority of Samoans are residing in NZ and OZ. The million $$$ question is..Is this a genuine swich by the government to assist the majority of Samoans or a political hidden agenda by the Giant Heads to increase their kickbacks from Japan and other countries that manufacture RHD? If this is a genuine help what about sending cars to Samoa DUTY FREE. I find it stupid for the Ministry of Transport to say they will only allow vehicles 8 years and under. Heaps of cars in OZ and NZ are well maintain and roadworthy (compare to a lot of unsafe vehicles on the road in samoa) despite their age, way over 8 years old.....I think all Samoan in NZ and OZ should urge the Government of Samoa to help with 2 things.............(1) duty free.........(2)all imported vehicles should be roadworthy (not 8 years and under). As we all know, the higest percentage of income revenue to the country is by foreign remittance by relatives abroad, hence, this will greatly affect the economy of Samoa. Therefore, puts alot of pressure on relatives in NZ and OZ. Pliz have your say on what you think. Manuia le aso.........John Holmes.....Brissy, Aust.

Ive asked 3 differnet people waht the import duty is and have gotten 3 different answers??? Can anyone confirm exactly???

I am in the process of of creating a business plan for a project that I would like to build in Samoa. My wife and I have been activly involved in this plan for three years. We were in Samoa at the end of August. It appears to me that money is very hard to come by for most citizens and the right hand drive car rule , that stipulates that the car must be less than eight years old, is not supportable by the people that need it most. Here in New Zealand, affordable vehicules don't become available untill 1996 models or older. These vehicles,are and would be very dependable in Samoa, but most importantly, affordable. The business plan that I am creating needs a 4x4 van for some of the time and 2002 and newer are actually very hard to find. Please shed some light on this problem.

Regards,

Bob Bennett

hey the cost of living nowadays is so great it is good for me to make it up for us......ha.....ha.....i don't care what kind of hard but the government will be strong to show people that they are not loosers......