Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is refusing to address a report claiming he tried to call off a ceremony in Samoa bestowing him with a chiefly title, saying there is nothing more to add. 

Yesterday, Luxon took part in a formal ceremony where he was given a matai title, a traditional and significant title given to people as a sign of respect and in recognition of that person’s ties to a particular part of Samoa. 

Paramount chiefs from local villages attended the event where Luxon was bestowed with the title, Tuisinavemaulumotootua, which refers to Luxon as the head or King (“tui”) of two sacred meeting grounds in Apia. 

Ahead of Luxon’s visit, local media reported on an interview where the Samoa Prime Minister, La’aulialemalietoa Polataivao Leuatea Fosi Schmidt, said words to the effect that Luxon had requested, via the New Zealand High Commissioner, a matai title. 

Those claims were swiftly denied by Luxon’s office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 

Hours before Luxon’s ceremony yesterday, the Government of Samoa released a statement also denying the claims. 

This morning, local newspaper the Samoan Observer reported La’aulialemalietoa had told an audience gathered for a state dinner last night that Luxon had tried to call off the bestowal of his new matai title. 

It claimed La’aulialemalietoa had been told an attempt to call off the ceremony was in response to “interference” on “social media”. 

Asked about the report, Luxon said he had nothing further to add to the Samoan Government’s statement yesterday. 

“I’ll leave it there, thanks.” 

He would not acknowledge whether an attempt was made to call off the ceremony. 

“Sorry guys, I’m just not going there.” 

Luxon believed there was no confusion surrounding the ceremony, claiming his visit had been “very successful” and the Samoan people were more interested in health and education initiatives the two countries could partner on. 

Both Luxon and La’aulialemalietoa this morning watched the “Prime Ministers’ Cup” at Wesley College in Apia, a high school rugby game between the local school and New Zealand’s Tipene boys’ school. New Zealand won the game 6-0. 

The two leaders were also gifted portraits of themselves, painted by students of a local Methodist college. 

Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.