Samoa and New Zealand share one of the most significant migration stories in the Pacific. Since the 1950s, Samoans have built one of the most established Pacific communities in New Zealand — and today, the South Auckland suburbs of Māngere, Ōtara, Manukau and Ōtāhuhu are home to one of the most vibrant Samoan communities anywhere in the world outside of Samoa itself.

For the Samoan community in New Zealand, sending money home is not a transaction — it is part of how family works. Remittances fund daily expenses, school fees, church contributions, funerals, weddings and the fa’alavelave — the Samoan system of communal obligation and support that underpins family and community life.

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The Samoan community in New Zealand

New Zealand is home to over 182,000 people who identify as Samoan — the largest Samoan population outside Samoa. The community is predominantly concentrated in South Auckland, with significant populations in Wellington (particularly Porirua and Hutt Valley) and Christchurch.

Samoans are one of New Zealand’s most established Pacific communities, with multigenerational roots in the country dating back to the 1950s. The community is known for its strong church networks, community organisations, sports clubs (particularly rugby league and rugby union) and cultural events including the annual Samoan Language Week.

Fa’alavelave: Central to Samoan community life is fa’alavelave — the traditional system of communal obligation that involves contributing money and goods to support family events (weddings, funerals, 21st birthdays, church dedications). For Samoans in New Zealand, fa’alavelave obligations to family in Samoa are a regular and significant financial commitment. Being able to send money reliably and affordably is essential.

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Sending money to Samoa with OrbitRemit

OrbitRemit supports NZD to WST transfers with direct delivery to Samoan bank accounts and MyCash mobile wallet.

Fee: NZD $2 flat fee per transfer (fee-free above NZD $10,000)

Banks supported:

• ANZ Samoa
• Samoa Commercial Bank (SCB)
• National Bank of Samoa (NBS)
• BSP Samoa (Bank of South Pacific)

Mobile wallet:

• MyCash — Samoa’s leading mobile wallet; recipients can use MyCash for everyday purchases, bill payments and cash withdrawals at MyCash agents across Samoa

Transfer limit: NZD $10,000 WST per day across all accounts

Speed: Same working day in most cases

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Step by step: how to send money to Samoa with OrbitRemit

1. Create your account at orbitremit.com or download the OrbitRemit app (App Store or Google Play)
2. Verify your identity — one-time biometric ID check with your passport or NZ driver’s licence; takes 2-3 minutes
3. Add your recipient — their bank name, account number and full name; or their MyCash mobile number
4. Enter your amount — the NZD $2 fee and current WST exchange rate are shown upfront before you confirm
5. Pay by bank transfer — transfer from your NZ bank account to OrbitRemit’s local NZ account
6. Track your transfer — real-time tracking in the app until your family confirms receipt

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The exchange rate and timing your transfer

The NZD/WST exchange rate moves daily based on global currency markets. Even small movements make a difference — a 1% improvement in the rate on a NZD $500 transfer delivers approximately WST 5-10 more to your family.

Rate alerts: Set a target NZD/WST rate in the OrbitRemit app and receive a push notification when it is hit — so you can send at the best rate without watching daily.

When to send: Transfers initiated on New Zealand working days and received by OrbitRemit before the cut-off time settle the same day in Samoa. Weekend transfers may take until the next Samoan working day.

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Banks in Samoa — what your family needs to know

To receive a bank transfer, your family member needs:

• A bank account at one of the supported banks (ANZ Samoa, SCB, NBS, BSP)
• Their account number and bank branch name
• Their full legal name as it appears on the account

If your family does not have a bank account, MyCash is the most accessible option — recipients can sign up for MyCash with a valid ID and receive transfers directly to their mobile number.

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MyCash — Samoa’s mobile wallet

MyCash is operated by Digicel Samoa and is widely used across the country for everyday transactions. Key features for recipients:

• Receive international transfers directly from overseas
• Pay bills, buy mobile credit and make purchases at MyCash-enabled merchants
• Cash out at any MyCash agent across Samoa
• Available across Upolu and Savai’i

For family members in more remote areas of Savai’i or outer villages, MyCash can be more accessible than a bank branch.

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Comparing the cost

Banks are significantly more expensive for NZD to WST transfers. Monito.com data confirms the average total cost (including hidden exchange rate markup) of NZ bank transfers to Samoa is approximately 17.1% of the transfer amount — nearly 12 times more expensive than specialist online providers.

OrbitRemit’s NZD $2 flat fee with no exchange rate markup makes the cost transparent and predictable — what you see is what your family receives.

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Fa’alavelave and large transfers

For significant fa’alavelave obligations — funerals, weddings, 21st birthdays, church dedications — transfer amounts may be larger than regular monthly remittances.

Fee-free above NZD $10,000: All OrbitRemit transfers above NZD $10,000 are fee-free. For large fa’alavelave contributions, the transfer cost is zero.

Transfer limit: NZD $10,000 WST per day across all accounts. For larger amounts, contact OrbitRemit customer support before initiating — multiple transfers may be required.

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Sending money from Australia to Samoa

If you have family in Australia who also send money to Samoa, OrbitRemit supports AUD to WST transfers at the same AUD $2 flat fee (fee-free above AUD $10,000), with the same delivery options.

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FAQ’s (frequently asked questions)

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Fees, exchange rates and supported banks are subject to change. Check orbitremit.com/samoa for current rates and delivery options. Last updated July 2026.

Sources: OrbitRemit — Send money to Samoa (orbitremit.com/samoa) | Statistics New Zealand — Pacific peoples ethnic group | Monito.com — Send money from New Zealand to Samoa comparison (2026)