Kerekere is a form of reciprocity in which one may ask neighbours, friends and relatives for goods and services to meet one’s basic socio-economic needs, or for the purpose of fulfilling certain social obligations (Ratuva, 2006). Some of these customs are traditions, such as the utu (extended family), karekare (taking turns at joint work with non-utu members), te aiai (sharing fire), bubuti (the requesting of gifts based on family relationships), te Katabetabe (burden sharing, especially at funerals) and tekaonono (sharing food with people outside the utu). The Mata (chiefly title) system in Samoa that controls all local government is a traditional, well-organized social protection system.