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Plural Procedures for Adoption and ‘Vae Tama’ in Samoa

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The Plural Practice of Adoption in Pacific Island States

Part of the book series: The World of Small States ((WSS,volume 5))

Abstract

In 1962, Samoa became the first Pacific Island country to gain independence. Under the State system, laws relating to children are governed by legislation and the common law, and to some extent by international law. Outside the State system, but recognised by the Constitution, customary laws are also in operation. The interrelationship between customary laws and the State system poses challenges on many levels, particularly in the realm of personal relationships, including adoption. This chapter examines the laws on adoption and the relationship between State adoption and customary adoption, more properly referred to by the Samoan term, ‘vae tama’.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Samoa (Constitution Amendment) Act (No 2) 1997.

  2. 2.

    Constitution of Samoa 1960, art 42.

  3. 3.

    Ibid., art 32.

  4. 4.

    Ibid., art 18.

  5. 5.

    Ibid., art 17.

  6. 6.

    Electoral Amendment Act 1990 (Samoa).

  7. 7.

    Except for two seats, where members were elected on the basis of universal suffrage by the citizens of non-Samoan descent: Electoral Act 1963 (Samoa), s16.

  8. 8.

    Electoral Act 1963 (Samoa) s 5.

  9. 9.

    Constitution of Samoa 1960, art 111(1); Samoa Act 1921 (NZ) s 349(1).

  10. 10.

    See Constitution of Samoa 1960, art 111.

  11. 11.

    Turner (1884).

  12. 12.

    Samoa Bureau of Statistics (2016), p. 4.

  13. 13.

    Samoa Bureau of Statistics (2017).

  14. 14.

    Ibid.

  15. 15.

    Knoema World Data Atlas (2015).

  16. 16.

    Te’o (1918).

  17. 17.

    Since independence, Samoa has been divided into 41 territorial constituencies and two urban constituencies for election purposes: Constitution of Samoa, art 44. The boundaries are set out in the Constituencies Act 1963.

  18. 18.

    Samoa Bureau of Statistics (2011).

  19. 19.

    Statistics for 2010 and 2011 were obtained from US Department of State (2018). Statistics for 2012–2016 were obtained on 25 September 2017 from the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, Samoa. The Chief Executive Officer and the Ministry is acknowledged for their assistance in researching and providing this data.

  20. 20.

    Constitution of Samoa 1960, art 2(1).

  21. 21.

    During the period of German Administration Proclamations were made by the Governor. Germany renounced rights in respect of Samoa by the Treaty of Peace 1919. Regulations were made by the Military Administrator of Samoa until 1920 when the Council of the League of Nations mandated power to administer Samoa to New Zealand.

  22. 22.

    See further, Corrin and Bamford (2016), pp. 26–27, 40–42.

  23. 23.

    Constitution of Samoa 1960, art 114.

  24. 24.

    By 1977, only one British Act of Parliament (the Wills Act 1837 (UK)), and three New Zealand Acts of Parliament (Bankruptcy Act 1908; Companies Act 1955; and Property Law Act 1952), and ss 360, 362 and 367 of Samoa Act 1921, were stated to be in force: see notes to Reprint of Statutes Act 1972 in Revised Statutes of Samoa 1977. Wills Act 1837 (UK) and Companies Act 1955 (NZ) have since been repealed: Wills Act 1975 (Samoa); Companies Act 2001 (Samoa) s 352. Section 367 Samoa Act was declared void in Chu Ling v Bank of Samoa [1980–1993] WSLR 258.

  25. 25.

    See Constitution of Samoa 1960, arts 2, 100, 111 and 114.

  26. 26.

    Constitution of Samoa 1960, art 111(1); Samoa Act 1921 (NZ) s 349(1).

  27. 27.

    See further Corrin and Paterson (2017), chapters 2 and 3.

  28. 28.

    Mose v Mosame [1930–1949] WSLR 140. See also Corrin and Paterson (2017), chapter 3.

  29. 29.

    Convention on the Rights of the Child, opened for signature 20 November 1989, 1577 UNTS 3 (entered into force 2 September 1990). Samoa became a signatory to the Convention on 30 September 1990 and ratified the Convention on 29 November 1994.

  30. 30.

    Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, opened for signature 18 December 1979, 1249 UNTS 1 (entered into force 3 September 1981). Samoa acceded to the Convention on 25 September 1992.

  31. 31.

    Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, opened for signature 13 December 2006, 2515 UNTS 3 (entered into force 3 May 2008). Samoa became a signatory to the Convention on 24 September 2014 and ratified the Convention on 2 December 2016.

  32. 32.

    Hague Conference on Private International Law, Status Table 28: Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Adoption (updated 2 August 2017).

  33. 33.

    Re Application for Adoption by Solomona (Unreported, District Court, Samoa, Vaai J, 1 January 1999), available via www.paclii.org at [1999] WSDC 1.

  34. 34.

    Infants Ordinance 1961, s 7(4).

  35. 35.

    Ibid., s 7(2).

  36. 36.

    Ibid., s 7(3).

  37. 37.

    Ibid., 7.

  38. 38.

    Ibid., s 8(a).

  39. 39.

    Ibid., s 8, Proviso.

  40. 40.

    Ibid., s 2.

  41. 41.

    (Unreported, Supreme Court, Samoa, Sapolu CJ, 16 June 2000) available via www.paclii.org at [2000] WSSC 42.

  42. 42.

    Re Solomona (Unreported, District Court, Samoa, Vaai J, 1 January 1999) available via www.paclii.org at [1999] WSDC 1.

  43. 43.

    Infants Ordinance 1961, s 9.

  44. 44.

    Ibid., s 9.

  45. 45.

    Ibid., s 10(2).

  46. 46.

    Ibid., s 10(2).

  47. 47.

    Stowers v Stowers (Unreported, Supreme Court, Samoa, Sapolu CJ, 14 June 2010) available via www.paclii.org at [2010] WSSC 30.

  48. 48.

    Infants Ordinance 1961, s 10(1).

  49. 49.

    Ibid., s 11(1).

  50. 50.

    Ibid., s 11(2).

  51. 51.

    Re Utumapu (Unreported, District Court, Samoa, Nelson DCJ, 30 November 2004) available via www.paclii.org at [2004] WSDC 6.

  52. 52.

    Infants (Adoption) Amendment Act 2005. See further, Pound Pup Legacy, ‘Death Prompts Samoan Adoption Change’, 27 June 2005. http://poundpuplegacy.org/node/22135. Accessed 9 May 2018.

  53. 53.

    ‘Overseas adoption’ is defined by the amended s 2 of the Infants Ordinance 1961.

  54. 54.

    Inserted by the Infants Amendment Act 2015.

  55. 55.

    Infants (Adoption) Amendment Act 2005, s 9A(1).

  56. 56.

    Ibid., s 9A(4).

  57. 57.

    Ibid., s 9A(5).

  58. 58.

    Infants (Adoption) Regulations 2006.

  59. 59.

    Ibid., regs 5, 6.

  60. 60.

    Ibid.

  61. 61.

    Ibid., sch 1, 2.

  62. 62.

    Ibid., reg 6, note to Regulations.

  63. 63.

    Jackson (1979), para 1138; Brooks v Blunt [1923] 1 KB 257.

  64. 64.

    Samoa is predominantly a Christian nation. See above.

  65. 65.

    Child Rights International Network (2016), para 42.

  66. 66.

    Established pursuant to s 74 of the Constitution. They are governed by the District Courts Act 1969 (Samoa).

  67. 67.

    Fa’afafine are Samoan biological males who identify as female.

  68. 68.

    Brown (2005), pp. 142–143.

  69. 69.

    The required information is listed in Schedule 2 of the Infants (Adoption) Regulations 2006.

  70. 70.

    Personal communication between Ministry officer and Dr Mulitalo February 2018.

  71. 71.

    Infants (Adoption) Regulations 2006, reg 6(3).

  72. 72.

    Ibid., reg 6(4).

  73. 73.

    Ibid., reg 6(5).

  74. 74.

    Personal communication between Ministry officer and Dr Mulitalo February 2018.

  75. 75.

    Infants (Adoption) Regulations 2006, reg 6(9).

  76. 76.

    Hague Conference on Private International Law, Status Table 28: Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Adoption (updated 2 August 2017).

  77. 77.

    Infants Ordinance 1961 s 2.

  78. 78.

    Convention on the Rights of the Child, opened for signature 20 November 1989, 1577 UNTS 3 (entered into force 2 September 1990) art 21.

  79. 79.

    Infant Ordinance 1961 (Samoa), ss 2 and 7.

  80. 80.

    Maintenance and Affiliation Act 1967 (Samoa) s 61.

  81. 81.

    Family Court Act 2014.

  82. 82.

    Ibid., s 8(1).

  83. 83.

    Ibid., s 8(1)(a).

  84. 84.

    Ibid., s 14.

  85. 85.

    Ibid., s 13.

  86. 86.

    Ibid., s 15.

  87. 87.

    District Courts Act 1969, s 70.

  88. 88.

    Judicature Act 1961 (Samoa), s 51.

  89. 89.

    Family Court Act 2014, s 6.

  90. 90.

    Ibid., s 7.

  91. 91.

    Ibid., s 10.

  92. 92.

    Ibid., s 10(1)(e).

  93. 93.

    Ibid., s 11.

  94. 94.

    Constitution of Samoa 1960, art 103; Land and Titles Court Act 1981.

  95. 95.

    Vaai (1999), p. 54.

  96. 96.

    Village Fono Act 1990, s 2.

  97. 97.

    Ibid., s 3(2).

  98. 98.

    The legislation affirms the customary authority of the Village Fono and confers further powers on it, but it also allows for an appeal to the Land and Titles Court, which arguably restricts its powers. For further discussion of the flaws in this legislation see Va’a (2000), pp. 151, 159.

  99. 99.

    This term loosely translates as ‘service’.

  100. 100.

    Village Fono Act 1990, s 9.

  101. 101.

    Land and Titles Act 1981, s 92.

  102. 102.

    Ibid., s 44.

  103. 103.

    Interview with anonymous participant 1 (Apia, 27 February); Interview with anonymous participant 2 (Apia, 1 March 2018); Interview with anonymous participant 3 (Apia, 2 March 2018).

  104. 104.

    Interview with anonymous participant 1 (Apia, 27 February).

  105. 105.

    Interview with anonymous participant 2 (Apia, 1 March 2018).

  106. 106.

    Interview with anonymous participant 2 (Apia, 1 March 2018).

  107. 107.

    Interview with anonymous participant 4 (Apia, 1 March 2018).

  108. 108.

    Interview with anonymous participant 5 (Apia, 1 March 2018).

  109. 109.

    Child Care and Protection Bill 2018 (Samoa) cl 4.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Samoa Law Reform Commission, Apia, Samoa

    Teleiai Lalotoa Mulitalo Seumanutafa

  2. Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Jennifer Corrin

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  1. Teleiai Lalotoa Mulitalo Seumanutafa
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Jennifer Corrin

  2. Northumbria Law School, University of Northumbria at Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Sue Farran

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Mulitalo Seumanutafa, T.L., Corrin, J. (2019). Plural Procedures for Adoption and ‘Vae Tama’ in Samoa. In: Corrin, J., Farran, S. (eds) The Plural Practice of Adoption in Pacific Island States. The World of Small States, vol 5. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95077-8_5

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