Opposition Leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi lashed out at the New Zealand government for bringing racists to work at the New Zealand Immigration Office in Samoa.

He made the claims in parliament on Wednesday.

Tuilaepa was addressing difficulties getting visas to travel to New Zealand even for church ministers.

"This is an issue way back when I was Prime Minister where most of the faifeaus came to me for assistance about difficulties in applying for their visitor's visa, especially in emergencies," Tuilaepa said.

"So I helped them by writing to the NZ immigration here and sought why were they making it difficult for the people to get their visas, especially the servants of God who are spreading the Good News to the people.

"New Zealand are bringing in racists to approve these visas and the government has to keep on knocking on the door for ways to make this easier."

Tuilaepa said if it's true that NZ and Samoa have a close relationship then it should not be difficult to address the issue.

Tuilaepa was speaking during the debate on the Economic Sector Committee Report that was tabled and passed by Parliament on Wednesday.

This Committee is chaired by Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell who acknowledged Tuilaepa's concern about the difficulties people are facing in applying for visas to visit NZ.

He said it was something that the committee would look into and address it with the NZ Immigration and the NZ government.