For example, the first Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and Le Mamea Matatumua Ata, a framer of the constitution of Samoa, was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on the New Zealand list in the 1960 Birthday Honours.
[3] The order was first awarded to Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Samoa on 11 February 1977 during the Silver Jubilee Pacific tour.
It set forth that the Head of State, acting upon the advice of the cabinet, could make awards to worthy individuals.
It further established the Merit Board to consider individuals eligible for awards and making recommendations to the cabinet of those persons.
There is a further section that states any honours not attached to the Merit Act 1992/1993 are also still valid and maintain their status and recognition.