Wellington and Auckland based organisation active in 1970s and 1980s. Formed to raise funds for Lesa versus Attorney General case heard at Privy Council 1982 which dealt with issue of citizenship for Western Samoan people faced with deportation for overstaying in New Zealand.
Special Committee on Overstayers Issue
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Manuscript
Rosenberg, George, fl 1970-1980s : Papers relating to Falema'i Lesa and New Zealand cit...
Date: 1980-1999
By: Rosenberg, George, active 1970-1980s
Reference: MS-Group-2182
Description: Collection comprises papers relating to the Special Committee on Overstayers in 1970s-80s and lawyer George Rosenberg's legal papers regarding the Privy Council case he represented on behalf of Falema'i Lesa. Includes correspondence, legal papers, reports, leaflets, newspaper cuttings, ephemera and address list. Source of title - Supplied by Library Accompanying material - Back file contains notes from Field Librarian and background information used for arrangement and description work. In July 1982, Falema'i Lesa, with her barristers George Rosenberg and George Paterson Barton, successfully appealed her visa overstay conviction to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The Special Committee on Overstayers was established to find funding for the legal case. The Privy Council ruling stated that all Western Samoans born between 1924 and 1948 were British subjects, and in 1949 they and their descendants had become New Zealand citizens. Subsequently a Protocol to the Treaty of Friendship between the government of New Zealand and the Government of Western Samoa was signed on 21 August 1982, and the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 was passed on 14 September 1982. The Act overturned the Privy Council ruling and granted New Zealand citizenship to all Western Samoan citizens who were in New Zealand on 14 September 1982 or those who arrived in New Zealand as permanent residents after that date. Quantity: 13 folder(s). 0.13 Linear Metres. Provenance: George Rosenberg handed on his files relating to Privy Council case to Ms Masoe when he was leaving for overseas.