15/06/2026
New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, Her Excellency Si’alei van Toor, recently welcomed three new volunteers from New Zealand as they begin their assignments with local partner organisations across Samoa.
The arrival of these three volunteers brings the total number of in-country volunteers to nine (9), each contributing their skills, experience, and expertise in support of Samoa’s development priorities.
Joining local partner organisations are Litia Gibson (Salvation Army Services), John Kingsbury (Betham Brothers Enterprises) and Howard Markland (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries).
Facilitated through Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA), New Zealand’s largest volunteering agency, these placements continue a longstanding partnership between Samoa and New Zealand.
Since 1963, VSA has connected skilled New Zealand professionals with Samoan organisations to strengthen local capability, foster knowledge exchange and support sustainable, community-led development.
Together, these partnerships reflect the enduring people-to-people connections at the heart of the Samoa-New Zealand relationship.
VSA (Volunteer Service Abroad)
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries - Samoa