Far East Kingdoms

Colonial Samoa (Polynesia) (Oceania)
AD 1899 - 1962

Incorporating Tripartite Protectorate (1899-1900), German Colony (1900-1914), New Zealand Mandate of Western Samoa (1900-1947), New Zealand Trust Territory of Western Samoa (1947-1962)

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Considered in some quarters to be a watery continent in its own right, Oceania starts where South-East Asia ends, to the south-east of Indonesia and East Timor. Its territory is somewhat debatable but generally consists of the waters of the Pacific Ocean dotted with some two thousand islands, some of which are independent states and others either parts of countries or colonies.

Polynesia encompasses today's Samoa. Northern Polynesia consists of the long chain of Hawaiian Islands which reach from the Midway Islands in the west to the island of Hawaii in the east, all in the North Pacific. The Samoa archipelago sits to the north-east of Fiji. Former Samoan chiefdoms included Manu'a, Savai'i, and 'Upolu.

Samoa's people played a pivotal role in Polynesian migration. Evidence of Lapita pottery which has been found on 'Upolu indicates that Polynesians, probably from Tonga, first arrived in Samoa around 1000 BC.

The Dutch were the first Europeans to find Samoa, spotting 'Upolu Island in 1722. Other Europeans and Americans followed until, in 1839, the Americans established a consulate in Apia. Various European nations followed suit. The European interest in the islands prompted New Zealand to urge British annexation of them, but Britain was not so inclined.

The Samoans formed a centralised 'Samoan Kingdom' in 1873, jointly protected from 1889 by imperial Prussia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Then in 1900 Germany annexed it (except a part which became American Samoa), initiating a period which can be labelled under the heading 'Colonial Samoa'. German interest in Samoa was ended during the First World War, with the League of Nations granting New Zealand a mandate in 1920 to administer Samoa (now Western Samoa).

The United Nations, which replaced the defunct League of Nations following the conclusion of the Second World War, created a trust territory which continued to be administered by New Zealand. Local self-government was awarded to Western Samoa in 1959, and it became fully independent in 1962.

Principal author(s): Page created: Page last updated:

(Information by John De Cleene and the John De Cleene Archive, with additional information from Ancient History of the Hawaiian People to the Times of Kamehameha I, Abraham Fornander (Mutual Publishing Company, 1996, and originally published as An Account of the Polynesian Race: Its Origins and Migrations, Vol II), from Beyond the Blue Horizon (National Geographic, March 2008), from National Geographic Atlas of the World, 7th Ed (National Geographic Society, 1999), from Times Atlas of World History, Geoffrey Barraclough (Ed, Maplewood, New Jersey, 1979), and from External Links: Military History of American Samoa (Military History Fandom), and Samoa (Encyclopaedia Britannica), and Samoa (Rulers.org), and Samoa (World Statesmen), and BBC Country Profiles.)

1899

Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States establish a joint protectorate over the now-terminated 'Kingdom of Samoa'. The king (o le tupu o Samoa) steps down and the three powers establish a provisional government under the 'Tripartite Protectorate' which consists of their consuls.

1899 - 1900

German consul. Role taken by the emperor.

1899

British consul.

1899 - 1900

US consul. Post cancelled.

1899 - 1900

Acting British consul. Post cancelled.

1900

Germany annexes Samoa, which continues to be referred to as Samoa or German Samoa. The local chiefs of Tutuila cede it to the United States, and several others do the same in later years, creating American Samoa. The German emperor, Wilhelm II, personally takes the title of paramount king of Samoa (tupu sili o Samoa).

Samoan women in 1899 joined what was usually a male-dominated activity when they participated in resistance against a fierce bombardment by the Royal Navy and US Navy, with this photo by Charles Kerry showing several males and females carrying their weapons

1900 - 1914

Paramount king. Emperor of Germany.

1900 - 1911

German governor.

1911 - 1914

German governor.

1914 - 1919

During the First World War, New Zealand occupies Samoa (in 1914). Having lost the war, in 1919 Germany renounces its possession of Samoa. A League of Nations mandate is created for Samoa in 1920 which is administered by New Zealand and is referred to as Western Samoa.

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Prussia and the German empire inspects his troops on the eve of war in 1914, a war which none of the tributary German principalities had any chance of escaping

1914 - 1919

New Zealand administrator of occupied Samoa.

1919 - 1923

New Zealand administrator of Western Samoa.

1923 - 1928

New Zealand administrator of Western Samoa.

1928 - 1931

New Zealand administrator of Western Samoa.

1929

The 'Mau Movement', a non-violent resistance movement which had begun in 1908 and whose motto is 'Samoa for the Samoans', culminates in 'Black Saturday' on 29 December 1929. New Zealand police officers fire on demonstrators who have gathered to welcome one of its leaders on his return from exile. Many are killed or wounded.

The United States prevents another Mau leader from landing in Samoa after he returns from meetings in the United States. The Americans then work to suppress the movement.

The non-violent Mau Movement began in 1908 but was suppressed by New Zealand officials following the bloody 'Black Saturday' event, with Mau leaders and Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III shown here in front of the Mau office in 1929

1931 - 1935

New Zealand administrator of Western Samoa.

1935 - 1946

New Zealand administrator of Western Samoa.

1946 - 1949

Administrator and then high commissioner.

1945 - 1946

New Zealand becomes a charter member of the United Nations on 24 October 1945. The country officially ceases the use of the term 'Dominion' in the same year without announcing the fact to the general public. Western Samoa becomes the 'United Nations Trust Territory of Western Samoa' in 1946 which is administered by New Zealand.

1949 - 1960

New Zealand high commissioner.

1959

New Zealand grants local self-government to Western Samoa. Such a status is a temporary step which eventually will lead to full independence.

Samoa is the ideal island paradise, one which is filled with opportunities for adventure while being a mixture of natural beauty, welcoming people, and a vibrant culture which truly embodies the Samoan way of life

1960 - 1961

New Zealand high commissioner.

1962

With a head of state who functions under the title of O le Ao o le Malo, on 1 January 1962 the UN 'Trust Territory' of Western Samoa, under the administration of New Zealand, becomes the 'Independent State of Western Samoa'.