The Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives and his delegation were officially welcomed at an ava ceremony at the Legislative Assembly Office in Mulinu'u on Tuesday morning. 

The welcome ava ceremony marked the commencement of Speaker Adrian Rurawhe and his delegation's two-day visit to Samoa.

The ceremony was attended by the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House, the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and New Zealand's High Commissioner to Samoa.

Led by Mr. Rurawhe, the delegation is made up of Lemauga Lydia Sosene (MP), Teanau Tuiono (MP), Tangi Utikere (MP), Todd Muller (MP), Amber Walters, Kirsty Murfitt, and Johnny Blades.

The Office of the Legislative Assembly officials conducted the ava ceremony to officially welcome the delegation to Samoa on behalf of Samoa's Parliament and its people. 

At the conclusion of the ava ceremony, the Speaker of New Zealand's House of Representatives expressed their sincere gratitude to the Speaker and the Parliament of Samoa for welcoming them in a true Samoan way.

He said they were honoured to be part of the special ceremony and are looking forward to the discussions between the two counterparts. 

The delegation from New Zealand then sang a song in Te Reo Maori to express their gratitude to Speaker Papali'i Li'o Ta'eu-Masipau and the Office of the Clerk Legislative Assembly for the warm welcome they received. 

Speaker Rurawhe and his delegation then met with Papali'i after the ava ceremony, followed by another meeting with the Committee Chair and Deputy Chairs of the different Parliamentary Committees. 

They were then treated to a lunch hosted by Speaker Papali'i at Bistro Tatau before the delegation had a tour around the Maota Fono (Parliament Building) at Mulinu'u. 

The visiting delegation was also briefed on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which will be hosted in Samoa in October next year. 

On Wednesday the delegation will visit the Mailelani Samoa Body Care, Vaoala Vanilla Farm, Sinalei Resort, Poutasi ADRA development, Lotofaga ADRA development, and To Sua Trench.

Speaker Papali'i will host a farewell dinner at Taumeasina Island Resort on Wednesday evening for the delegation.

Before returning to New Zealand on Thursday, the New Zealand parliamentary delegation will briefly visit the PACERPlus Implementation Unit Office and the Afia Nursery Mulifanua.