Samoa Trade & Investment Council

05/08/2026

Ua maliliu Toa, ua maumau ai a'upega o le taua!

O lea ua Tafea le tau'ofe, ta'ape aualuma, motu le soa, ma tōuli
auā ua lagia Fagamalama e susu ai le Susuga I le Tuatagaloa,
o le Sa'o Fetalai, o le To'osavili, o le Ki o le Mālō,
ua lagia Poutasi e susu ai le Susuga I le Meleisea, o le Sa'o auāluma, ae ā Alo o Fanene ma Usoali'i.
Lea ua usu le fono I Poutasi ma Fagamalama e pola puipui e Lufilufi ma le to'avalu o taulauniu.

Talofae, ua fai I le lagi le folauga a le Susuga I le To'osavili Nigel Bickle.

This weekend Hastings District, and so many of us in the Pasifika and RSE community, lost a rare kind of leader.

To'osavili Nigel Bickle didn't just chair meetings he made room at the table.

He brought people together to kōrero, talanoa and fa'asoa, and he actively sought out cross-stakeholder support for solutions that actually made sense for the people they were meant to serve.

His connection to Samoa ran deep.

His matai title, To'osavili, was bestowed on him by High Chief Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale of Poutasi village in Falealili,

a bond that tied him not just in name, but in heart, to Poutasi and Falealili communities, one of the very villages that first sent RSE workers to Hawke's Bay.

This connection shaped everything.

He was at the centre of so many conversations about improving training and wellbeing for our Samoan and Pasifika RSE workers here in Hawke's Bay,

not because it was his job, but because he genuinely cared, and because those villages were, in a real sense, his own.

He embraced the diversity of our cultures and respected the nuances of each one.

Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Cook Islands , Fiji, etc he showed up with humility and real aroha, every time.

Simply put, he was a good bloke, a humble leader, a family man.

Avea le matou leo vaivai e momoli atu le matou alofaaga ma fa'amafanafanaina I le Faletua ma le Aiga, uo ma e masani I lenei taimi faigatā.

Moe fīlēmū, lau Susuga To'osavili.

Fa'afetai mo lau tautua.

Your legacy of unity, action and manaaki will carry on in the communities you served.

Hastings mourns respected council leader Nigel Bickle

Bickle, a devoted husband, father, grandfather and koro, died unexpectedly at home.

14/01/2026

Sometimes there are no words that fully capture all that someone means to us. Not even the sweetest of tunes would be able to describe the beat or note that is intended for the audience. You Vui were in a class of your own. A much loved and admired leader, who fiercely went about her own way.. sharing, caring and empowering her local communities, your friends and family. You knew right from wrong and were not afraid to share that knowledge with those who needed it most. You were not afraid to be unequivocally you.

It is with great sadness that we share that our Secretary and much loved Vui Elena Fa'amoe-Timoteo has passed away surrounded by her loved ones.

She will be sorely missed, and irreplaceable.

Tonight join us as we join her family and friends to celebrate her life;

FAMILY SERVICE
Date: Thursday, 15 January 2026
Time: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Venue: St. Martin’s Presbyterian Church Hall, 22 Wyllie Road, Papatoetoe
The families of Vui Elena and Mati Tuautu have prepared a light refreshment in the Church Hall behind the Sanctuary.

FUNERAL SERVICE
Date: Saturday, 17 January 2026
Time: 10:30 am
Venue: St. Martin’s Presbyterian Church Hall, 22 Wyllie Road, Papatoetoe

Her song may have ended, but the melody will live on.

On behalf of the Samon Trade and Investment Council, I express our sincerest condolences to you Mati Tuautu Fa'amoe Timoteo and your beautiful children at this sad time.

28/06/2024

As we usher in Matariki we acknowledge our loved ones, those who have passed on since the last rising;

Fanuaaiga Autagavaia Apu'ula
Faifeau Toeaina Manumalo Alaovae Alaovae
Lotomaulalo Brown
Ta'eleasaasa Miti Fa'aleava
Stephen Gene Roberts
Vaaomala Saipele

And losses in our Community;

Efeso Collins
Mary Samasoni
Mele Ah-Sam Fuimaono Norman Tuiasau

Here is to a time of reflection, remembrance, celebrating the present with our family, friends and loved ones, and looking forward to the year ahead and the promise and abundance it holds for you.

Mānawatia a Matariki

The STIC Executive

15/06/2024

We have had a busy week of events and are always so grateful to be able to be a part of strategic business and partnerships across the Pacific and the World - Sharing ideas and collaborating.

Thank you to the NZ Malaysia Business Association Inc and Singapore Business Association New Zealand SBANZ for hosting and inviting our council along to your event. Represented by our Co-Chair Meta Apu'ula and Councillor John Loau who both enjoyed themselves, the connections and the insights.

Great to see Hon Melissa LEE, Chris Penk MP and HE William Tan Wei Yuan High Commissioner Singapore.

It’s a great time to utilise the networks to assist in your ventures, foster relationships and allow you to grow your business and or concept with the right business minds and know how.

Ma le fa’aaloalo lava,
STIC

12/06/2024

Great to have John Loau represent Samoa Trade & Investment Council at the annual Finance Ministers Lunch with Prime Minister Hon. Christopher Luxon hosted by the Auckland Business Chamber and CEO Hon. Simon Bridges. Gathered in the room were business leaders from across every sector alongside community and government agencies eager to hear from the PM.

"Doing the basics, brilliantly," and "We can do it, I know we can, because of the people in this room."

Clear the buzz of conversations between people and groups as familiar networks gather and new networks meet and grow. John had some great conversations around the budget, economic development and growth opportunities here and abroad through partnerships.

We continue to tackle the current challenges together.

06/03/2024

It was a great catch up this afternoon with Samoa Trade Commissioner Va’atu’itu’i Apete Meredith and Auckland Business Chamber’s CEO Simon Bridges alongside our Chair Mati Filemoni Timoteo - Covering, trade, business and everything in between.

Grateful for the time and space to come together to talanoa and see what opportunities there may be just beyond the horizon.

22/02/2024

Tulouna le lagi,
ua lagia Falepau e afifio ai le Sa’o
ua lagia Faletoi, le malae o le fa’utugatagi o le Alataua
Tulouna, ua gaugau’autā
Tulouna, ua Gasolosolo o ao
Tulouna, ua Ta’ape o pāpā
Tulouna le afio o le afioga o le Sa’o ma le Aiga
Tulouna le alalata’i o le Matuafia, Talopau ma le Alataua
Auā le tu’ua o le malo i le Sa’o ia Fa’anānā Efeso
Tulouna, tulouna, tulouna lava
Talofa e, ua fai I le lagi le folauga o le Afioga ia Fa’anānā, le Susuga I le Faip**e, le Tane, le Tamā peleina, le uso ma le tuagane, le tasi o Sui o Tagata Pasifika I totonu o le Palemene o Aotearoa nei.
O le fesili aisea”
Ona o le p**e faisoifua o le tatou Tamā I le Lagi.

Ia manuia le malaga uso, vaeane le suafa Fa’anānā. Matou tatalo ia maua si ou tulaga nofo mau I le nu’u paia. Ia tatou toe feiloa’i I le p**e alofa ma le agalelei o le Atua. Alofa atu.

On behalf of the Samon Trade and Investment Council, I express our sincerest condolences to lau Tofā Vasa Fia and your beautiful children at this sad time.

Our prayers of comfort and healing go out to you and your family.

On behalf of our Council,
Soifua ma ia manuia
Mati Filemoni
STIC - Chair

📸: Bluwave

25/12/2023

We are excited to announce, that after 11 years since our registration, in line with advice from our Government of Samoa via our new Trade Commissioner HE Va'atu'itu'i Apete Meredith.

The New Zealand Samoa Trade and Investment Commission (NZSTIC), trading as Trade Invest Samoa, is set to become the SAMOA TRADE INVESTMENT COUNCIL (STIC).

At the AGM, on 8 Dec. 23, the inaugural STIC executive komiti (committee) was appointed.

Officers:
Ta’itaʻi Fono (Chair) - Mati Filemoni Timoteo (incumbent chair of NZSTIC)
Sui Ta’itaʻi Fono (Deputy Chair) - Meta Apu'ula
Failautusi (Secretary) - Faavae Gagamoe

Komiti members:
Vui Elena Fa'amoe-Timoteo, John Loau

The Komiti will commence its work, on the 17th Ianuari / January 2024, to ensure the transition is seamless.

Announcements will be made, in due course, by our Ta'ita'i Fono.

Ia manuia tele lava le Kerisimasi ma le tausaga fou.

14/06/2023

3 weeks ago, In Samoa we witnessed 3 agreements being signed. A coming together of Heretaunga, Poutasi Falealili, WE Mana and Ngāti Kahungunu bringing along with them our people.

A coming together of leaders with heart and intention to pave the way for business, trade and investment, through village to iwi, village to business and city to city.

From that momentous day the follow-up fono in Heretaunga confirmed that the agreements would be honoured not only through word, but our actions.

Thank you to To’osavili Mayor Sandra Hazelhurst (Hastings District Council), To’osavili Nigel Bickle, for leading our meeting, To'osavili Len Thompson (Johnny Appleseed) , Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale (Poutasi, Falealili), WE Mana leaders, Wyndi Tagi and Taloto Eli Tagi CA,CPA beaming in from Samoa + CEO of WE Mana Samoa Tafilelea Fa'avae Gagamoe, Bayden Barber Chairman of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc, a massive mihi for your precious time to meet with us, the representatives from Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand, Industry Leaders, Employers from the Horticultire Sector from Heretaunga, and representatives from NZSTIC, our Chair Mati Filemoni Timoteo, Vui Elena Fa'amoe-Timoteo and Meta Apu’ula for coming together to continue our talanoa/korero we started in Samoa so we can continue to build on our relationships and put those wheels in motion.

Ma le fa’aaloalo lava

09/06/2023

This morning NZSTIC represented by Meta Apu'ula were invited along to the reception with the Treasurer of Australia the Hon. Dr Jim Chalmers MP.

What is evident of the Hon. Dr. Jim Chalmers is the same conviction and passion that he had in his first speech in 2013 in the People’s House, of the Australian Parliament, is how he leads today, the same tone, the same heart, ‘not just representing our electorates but being representative of them’ a leader for all his people and country.

We enjoyed listening to his talanoa. Auckland would be more than happy to be part of your constituency! Clear his wisdom and intelligence in both his role and in Hip Hop.

Alo i ou faiva, Hon. Dr. Jim Chalmers. O ou mama na.

Thank you Simon Bridges and Auckland Business Chamber for the invitation and organising this chat and to NZ Institute of Economic Research Inc (NZIER) Christina Leung, CFA for facilitating the panel discussion and Q+A for those in attendance.

Ma le fa’aaloalo lava