New Zealand–Samoa relations
New Zealand and Samoa have had close relations based on a treaty of friendship between the two countries since Samoa became independent in 1962. New Zealand administered Samoa under a League of Nations mandate then a United Nations trusteeship from 1920 to 1961. Both nations are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum. History New Zealand occupation of Samoa Initial contact between the people of New Zealand and Samoa began in the 1800s with the arrival of missionaries from the London Missionary Society who travelled to New Zealand and then to Samoa proselytising. In December 1899, Western Samoa (comprising the islands of Upolu and Savai'i) became a German protectorate and was known as German Samoa (Eastern Samoa was administered by the United States). In August 1914, during World War I, an expeditionary force from New Zealand took control of German Samoa unopposed. In 1919, the League of Nations granted New Zealand mandate to administer Western Samoa under a League of Nation mandate. Between 1918 and 1919, inhabitants of Western Samoa became infected by a pneumonic influenza which killed 8,500 residents (approx. 22% of the total population). This influenza led to increased desire for Samoans to obtain