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On Tuesday, a ground-breaking ceremony was held for a new $US4 million event space and boulevard near the Samoa government building.
It's the first of three phases of New Zealand's contribution to the beautification of Apia's waterfront.
But a government press release for the project urged people to "kindly note" China's government is funding construction next door.
The Friendship Park is backed by the Guangdong provincial government in China and includes a sports field and outdoor performance space and arts and cultural centre.
A signing ceremony was held last week.
RNZ's correspondent in Apia, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, said the overhaul of the waterfront is opening up the opportunity for competition between different aid donors.
"This would be a good opportunity for New Zealand to show what New Zealand can do to beautify our town, especially on the waterfront. This would be a good opportunity for China to show the tourists coming to Samoa this is what they can do to beautify our waterfront."
New Zealand's outgoing High Commissioner to Samoa, David Nicholson, said New Zealand is a minor infrastructure player in Samoa compared to China.
"But we do have the added advantage that our funding is unencumbered. In other words we do grant funding and we work through Samoan systems to do that. So our investments, we are not only developing infrastructure but we are developing the capability of the Samoan systems."
Mr Nicholson said New Zealand was focused on promoting tourism rather than other infrastructure.
