Retzlaff is of German-Swedish-Samoan descent,having inherited his German ancestry from his paternal grandfather.[1] His name "Telefoni",is the name that was given by the Samoan community in the early twentieth century,to his grandfather,when he arrived in the German colony,as a public servant of the postal services,to introduce the telephone to the country. He was educated at Marist Brothers in Apia[2] and King's College in Auckland,New Zealand.[3] He studied law at the University of Auckland,graduating in 1974.[2] After returning to Samoa,he studied to become a Certified Public Accountant,graduating in 1977,[2] before going on to practice law.[3] He was appointed Attorney-General of Samoa in 1986.[4] His eldest son Lemalu Herman Retzlaff was subsequently appointed and also served as Attorney General of Samoa in 2016.
Political career
In 1988 he resigned his position as Attorney-general to run for election,winning the seat of Falelatai &Samatau.[5] Initially part of the opposition,he joined the government of Tofilau Eti Alesana in 1991 as Minister of Agriculture,Forests,Fisheries and Shipping.[3] In 1996 he became Minister of Health,and in 2001,Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.[6][7] In 2006 he was appointed Minister of Tourism,Trade,Labor and Commerce.[8] He retired at the 2011 general election.[9][10]
Publications
Retzlaff has had two books published;"Love and Money",a love story about the richest young bachelor in Auckland New Zealand falling in love with and marrying the young Samoan kitchen help from his exclusive boarding school;and "To Thine Own Self be True",a collection of articles,speeches and poems.[4] In 2021 he published an autobiography,Tautua –Memoirs of a Public Servant.[2]
References
↑ Malama Meleisea (1987). The Making of Modern Samoa: Traditional Authority and Colonial Administration in the Modern History of American Samoa. USP. p.176. ISBN982-02-0031-8.
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