The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) also denied this happened.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters who also has a matai title. Photos / NZME
“The New Zealand High Commissioner did not request a title for Prime Minister Luxon. As is normal in the preparation for a Prime Minister’s visit there were detailed discussions with the host Government about arrangements.”
The High Commissioner had asked for advance notice of any important announcements or honours to ensure that the Prime Minister could be properly prepared, the ministry said.
It is understood that Luxon will receive the title tomorrow during a ceremony outside Samoa’s Government House.
Sir Bill English also received a matai title.
Luxon follows several other New Zealand Prime Ministers who have also received a matai title, including Sir Robert Muldoon, David Lange, Sir John Key and Sir Bill English.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters also has a matai title.
Former minister under the previous Labour Government Aupito William Sio (Aupito is a matai title) said Luxon’s matai title will be “Tuisinavemaulumotootua”, which refers to Luxon as the head or king of two particular traditional meeting grounds in Apia.
Aupito William Sio giving his valedictory spech at Parliament in Wellington in August 2023. Photo / Marty Melville
“Sinavema” and “ulumotootua” are the names of the two sacred meeting grounds, while “tui” means “head” or “king”, Sio said.
A matai was a significant and paramount title that recognised one’s chiefly status. Matai titles go back hundreds of years, and form a crucial part of the Samoan social structure, he said.
Leaders or heads of families, known as sāo, often decided who in their extended family unit was ready for a matai title. In Luxon’s case, the Apia village council (which is made up for representatives from all the families with genealogical links to the land in Apia) would have debated the issue for “some time” before ultimately deciding to bestow Luxon with the honour, Sio said.
Non-Samoan Prime Ministers and politicians being honoured has become more common in recent times. This, Sio said, had caused debate, particularly among younger generations who questioned the appropriateness of non-Samoans receiving the title in an “easy” way when that title was so sacred to them as the “true heirs”.
Being bestowed with a matai title brings with it responsibilities. Although some politicians who receive a matai title “love using it on [election] campaign periods, but very little is seen of them”, there are expectations that the receiver continues “serving the community that gave you the matai title”, Sio said.
Tomorrow’s ceremony would most likely include Luxon wearing traditional Samoan attire, drinking kava and “I believe the village will prepare a special seat for him to recognise the importance of the appointment,” Sio said.
This would be by the Samoan Prime Minister or with other paramount chiefs.
Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.