Some matai and women of various villages support the effort by New Zealand-Samoan activist Anae Arthur Anae for a three-month visa on arrival in New Zealand.

A mayor from Falealili, Taveuveu Esera said this was an important initiative by Anae so that the people of Samoa won't go through all the hassle of applying for a visitor's visa for NZ, and getting rejected.

The same was echoed by an orator of Sapunaoa, Tuiloma Agaalii Liliva.

Tuiloma acknowledged the push by Anae so that Samoans will be free to travel to NZ and get visas on arrival.

"We have heard and seen cases of many Samoans getting rejected when applying for their visas," Tuiloma said.

"I also have relatives who in the past years were applying for emergency visas for a funeral and got rejected," he added.

Tuiloma said it was a hassle when applying for a visitor's visa at NZ Immigration and a person is considered lucky if he gets the green light to visit for over three months.

A member of the women's committee of Sapunaoa, Ana Agaalii highlighted her support and acknowledged Anae for fighting for Samoans to get access to visit New Zealand.

She said this was a golden opportunity for all Samoans around the globe to sign the petition introduced by Anae last week.

All forms are in English and Samoan and available at all Frankie's supermarkets in Upolu.

The petition is also available online on the NZ Parliament page where a person has to type Anae Arthur Anae's name and fill in the form available.

Anae’s petition seeks three-month visas on arrival for Fiji, Samoa, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The target is to reach one million signatures.