Transcript
Samoa is recovering from the devastating deaths claimed by the measles outbreak last year - 83 in total. Most of them children.
Teleiai Edwin Puni was in Apia this month and says he wants better public awareness by the Samoan government to educate people about coronavirus.
"There's a lack of awareness on what exactly that means. I think Samoa's got to provide that form or show people what that form is because if they need to go and see their GP in New Zealand, they need to know what form they're talking about. A lot of them don't know, are not aware of what's been put in place by the Samoan government."
Samoan author Lani Wendt-Young says the lack of screening and checks at Auckland Airport amid the deadly outbreak of coronavirus is concerning, to say the least.
Ms Wendt-Young arrived from Apia on Tuesday and says she is disappointed New Zealand does not have any preventive measures in place at its biggest airport.
"Arriving in Auckland, I was actually surprised that there were no checks. And that surprised me because I thought that there would be some things in place but they didn't seem to be any. I don't know what New Zealand's got in place but it doesn't seem to be anything. And for me that that's a worry."
She says there were no checks when she left Samoa - only travellers arriving were being screened at Apia Airport.
However, Ms Wendt-Young says there were many people wearing masks at Auckland Airport.
"As a close neighbour to New Zealand and keeping in mind of course with measles coming to Samoa - very easily being transported on planes. But coming from Samoa and seeing other flights arrived from other places with no measures (as far as I can tell) being put in place, that is a concern for me."
Ms Wendt-Young says she will be visiting her GP for a checkup now that she's back.
While safety is paramount, Teleiai says the medical cost is having an impact on travellers to Samoa.
"You know that also accounts for some of the families cancelling their travels because of the additional visits to the doctor and cost that are incurred. You know, there were a lot of cancellations over the Christmas in fear of the measles and not knowing exactly how safe it is in Samoa."
Following an emergency cabinet meeting on Friday, the Samoan government imposed rules that compel anyone who's been in - or transited through - China to "self-quarantine" in a country free from coronavirus for 14 days.
