Independence Day in 2024

When is Samoan Independence Day?

Independence Day is a public holiday in Samoa on June 1st.

This day is Samoa's National Day and marks independence from New Zealand which was gained in 1962.

History of Samoan Independence Day

Samoa became of interest to the USA and European colonial powers in the late 19th century. A civil war resulted in the US controlling the western islands as American Samoa, with the east becoming German Samoa.

At the outbreak of World War I, New Zealand troops took control of German Samoa. From the end of the war, New Zealand controlled Samoa as a Trust Territory through the League of Nations, then through the United Nations.

Although the relationship between Samoa and New Zealand was amicable, Samoa gained its independence on January 1st 1962 after the New Zealand Western Samoa Act 1961 was passed on November 24th 1961.

When it became independent, the country was called Western Samoa and was the first small-island country in the Pacific to gain independence. Western Samoa was renamed as Samoa in 1997. It should be noted that nearby American Samoa remains an unincorporated territory of the United States

Despite the act of independence taking place on 1st January, the holiday is celebrated on June 1st as January is in the middle of the rainy season, which would put a damp dampener on any celebrations. Also having the celebrations on January 1st meant it would clash with the two days of holidays for New Year.

Did you know?

There was no December 30th 2011 in Samoa: they shifted to the other side of the international date line, jumping straight from December 29th to December 31st.

Shops selling goods may open during Public Holidays in accordance with the provisions of the Public Holidays Act 2008. Employers must comply with Section 39 of the Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013 in relation to the rate of wages to be paid to employees who work on Public Holidays.