Christopher Limu died after he was hit by a car driven by Vavao Monike in Samoa.

A New Zealander sacrificed his life to save a group of children in Samoa, shoving them out of the path of a car, a friend says.

Auckland man Christopher Limu was killed when a drunk driver hit him near the Samoan village Falefa, east of Apia, on Monday.

His childhood friend Elisha Lane told ONE News that Mr Limu "threw the children aside" when he saw the car hurtling towards them.

"He quickly grabbed them and threw them out of the way, taking the hit alone," she said.

Samoan publication Talamua reported a Mitsubishi driven by Falefa local Vavao Monike ran Limu down.

Samoan police said Monike was driving under the influence of alcohol at a very high speed, and may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

Monike has been held by police while they investigate, and faces the charge of negligent driving causing death.

Limu had only been in Samoa for two days prior to Monday's incident, Talamua said. He was of dual New Zealand and Samoan nationality.

Limu had a partner and two young children, and worked for Carter's Tyre Service on the North Shore.