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In recognition of the need for National Parks and protected areas in the South Pacific, the New Zealand Government hosted the First South Pacific Conference on National Parks and Reserves in 1975, in association with the South Pacific Commission (SPC) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). This meeting was at Ministerial. A second South Pacific Conference on National Parks and Reserves, also at Ministerial level, was held in 1979 in Australia. This was hosted by the Australian Government and the Government of New South Wales, which adopted the conference as one of the events celebrating the Centennial of the Royal NationaL Park as the first national park in Australia. The 1979 Conference decided that the third Conference should be hosted by a Pacific Island country.

This is the Verbatim Transcript, Volume 2 proceeedings of the second South Pacific Conference on National Parks and Reserves held in April 1979 in Sydney Australia

The Government of Samoa under its Environmental Policy Framework established rules and procedures to be followed under IAMP Phase 2 with regard to environmental assessment, monitoring and mitigation of potential negative impacts. For projects with no, or low but acceptable environmental impacts, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) may issue a waiver to the proponent from the further requirements of the draft EIA Regulations. In issuing a waiver, the CEO MNRE will rely on the advice of the Assistant CEO, PUMA. Such works are to be covered by Codes of Environmental Practice (COEP) provisions.

The Government of Samoa under its Environmental Policy Framework established rules and procedures to be followed under IAMP Phase 2 with regard to environmental assessment, monitoring and mitigation of potential negative impacts. For projects with no, or low but acceptable environmental impacts, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) may issue a waiver to the proponent from the further requirements of the draft EIA Regulations. In issuing a waiver, the CEO MNRE will rely on the advice of the Assistant CEO, PUMA. Such works are to be covered by Codes of Environmental Practice (COEP) provisions.

The District of Gagaifomauga II is located on the northern side of the island of Savaii west of the tourist precinct of Manase. The district is characterized by rocky coastal shores and estuaries as well as steep coastal cliffs susceptible to erosion and landslip. The inland area is steep and mountainous, covered by plantations and forest and a small number of village houses. The villages of Gagaifomauga II include, Paia, Samauga, Lefagaoali’i, Matavai Safune, Faletagaloa Safune and Fatuvalu. All villages except Paia and part of Lefagaoali’i are located on the coast. Paia is a small village approximately 1.5 km inland, while three quarters of Lefagaoali’i is located inland away from the coast. The coastal villages are all susceptible to coastal hazards.

The Government of Samoa under its Environmental Policy Framework established rules and procedures to be followed under IAMP Phase 2 with regard to environmental assessment, monitoring and mitigation of potential negative impacts. For projects with no, or low but acceptable environmental impacts, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) may issue a waiver to the proponent from the further requirements of the draft EIA Regulations. In issuing a waiver, the CEO MNRE will rely on the advice of the Assistant CEO, PUMA. Such works are to be covered by Codes of Environmental Practice (COEP) provisions.

The District Coastal Infrastructure Management (CIM) Plan for Faasaleleaga I District has been prepared as part of the Government of Samoa?s Infrastructure Asset Management Programme (IAMP). The CIM Plan is one of the primary means of implementing the CIM Strategy, which was formally approved by the Government of Samoa in February, 2001, as providing the Strategic direction for the management of infrastructure (both public and private) within the coastal area. The Strategy has as its central vision “Resilience – Coastal Infrastructure and Communities Resilient to Natural Hazards”. The CIM Plan takes this vision and provides the practical tools with which the communities and the government, in partnership, can implement the Strategy.

Our political and economic relations with Australia, the United States, Canada, Japan and the countries of South- East Asia are of particular importance. Almost half of our overseas trade is with Pacific countries, and this is growing steadily. As part of our good neighbour policy, we have tried to help in the economic development of other island states also, and to increase trade "between South Pacific countries. An important reason why New Zealand and its neighbours have become very closely associated, has been the movement of Pacific peoples to this country. Some are New Zealand citizens, and move freely back and forth. The Treaty of Friendship signed in August 1962, for instance, has maintained our long-standing association with Western Samoa, and has resulted in a steady flow of immigrants from that country.