A pioneering survey - the Pacific Attitudes Survey Samoa - was released on 9 June in Apia; it measures the views of Samoan citizens on a series of questions relating to democracy, the economy, tradition, trust in institutions, climate change, social media

Samoa started celebrating Christmas 13 days before the day itself; in these 13 days, government ministries and other congregations are invited to sing Christmas carols in their own style which are aired on TV

The Samoa Conservation Society has enlisted the help of the public to help eradicate the invasive rattan palm; initial work to combat the plant began in 2006 after it was introduced in the 1990s

Children aged from 4 to 14 from Samoa became the youngest official delegates to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Apia