Police on the alert for John Keys visit

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA: Tuesday 31 July 2012: New Zealand’s Prime Minister, To’asavili John Key and his delegation will get a red carpet welcome as the countries celebrate the 50 years if the Treaty of Friendship.

The delegation arrives tonight and both Prime Ministers will take part in raising their respective country’s flag infront of the Government building at 0830 tomorrow morning. Key will then have bilateral talks with the PM and his Cabinet. The two leaders will then hold a joint press conference and issue a joint statement before Key presents Tuilaepa a NZ Post 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship commemorative coin.

Key will then meet with the Leader of the Opposition, Palusalue Faapo 11 before the opening of the New Zealand Food and Beverages
Expo at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel.

Government is hosting the delegation to a State Lunch at the Robert Louis Steveneson Museum before Key and his entourage depart for Falealili village where he holds the matai title To’asavili.

He will be welcomed in a traditional kava ceremony before he opens Poutasi Memorial Hall in memory of the village victims of the 2009 tsunami.

He will also open an Art Exhibition called “Memories of Independence” produced for the 50th anniversary by NZ-Samoan artists and works by other NZ artists and Return to Hawaiki group.

After traditional presentations to the Prime Minister, he will return to Apia for a reception at the New Zealand High Commissioner’s
residence. The delegation flies out of Samoa 10pm the same evening.