Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren

Tafaoimalo Leilani Sina Naireen Tuala-Warren
Justice of the Supreme Court of Samoa
In office 29 April 2016 –24 March 2023
Personal details
Born	Apia, Samoa
Alma mater	University of Sydney University of Waikato

Tafaoimalo Leilani Sina Naireen Tuala-Warren is a former Samoan judge, who served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Samoa from 2016 to 2023. She was the second woman Supreme Court judge in Samoa. ^[1]

Early life and education

Tuala-Warren was born in Apia to a dentist father and a flight attendant mother, and was educated at Leifiifi College in Malifa and Tintern Grammar in Melbourne, Australia. She won an AUSAID scholarship to the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Economics in 1993. She then won a NZODA Scholarship to the University of Waikato, where she graduated with a Bachelor and Master of Laws in 1997, before completing a pre-admission course at the university's Institute of Professional Legal Studies in 1998. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Professional career

Tuala-Warren was a state solicitor in Samoa's Office of the Attorney-General from 1998 to 2000 before returning to Waikato University to teach from 2001 to 2005, variously as a tutor, teaching fellow and then law lecturer, teaching dispute resolution, corporate and commercial law and consumer protection. She returned to Samoa in 2005 to work as a partner with her brother's firm, Tuala & Tuala Lawyers, in their litigation practice. Tuala-Warren became the Executive Director of the Samoa Law Reform Commission in 2009, and was appointed as a Samoa District Court judge in August 2013. As District Court judge, she was the main judge for the Family Court and Family Violence Court. ^{[2] [1]}

She was appointed to the Supreme Court of Samoa in April 2016 after being recommended by the Court Commission, headed by the Chief Justice of Samoa. ^{[3] [4]} In January 2023 she announced she would be resigning from the court in March. ^[5] She retired from her role on 24 March. ^[6]

In June 2024 she was appointed as the Dean of Law at the University Waikato, Te Piringa - Faculty of Law. ^[7]

In August 2022 she was awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Waikato. ^[8] In August 2023 she was appointed Professor of Law by the University of Waikato. ^[9]

In mid January 2025, Minister of Māori Development Tama Potaka appointed Tuala-Warren to the Waitangi Tribunal, a tribunal that considers Treaty of Waitangi claims and is tasked with fostering reconciliation between Māori people and the New Zealand Crown. ^[10]

Personal life

She is married to New Zealand Māori Land Court judge Aidan Warren. ^{[3] [4] [6]}

References

1. "New Supreme Court Justice". Samoa Observer. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
2. "Judge Leilani Tuala-Warren - Honorary Lecturer". University of Waikato. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
3. "Second Samoan woman sworn in as Supreme Court Judge". Talamua Media. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
4. "A new judge in Samoa". Waikato University. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
5. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Ton (23 January 2023). "Senior Justice resigns from Supreme Court". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
6. "Judiciary takes Last Stand with Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren". Talamua. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
7. "New Zealand's first Pacific Dean of Law". The University of Waikato. The University of Waikato. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
8. Gutu Faasau (3 August 2022). "Supreme Court Justice to receive award". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
9. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (10 August 2023). "Justice Tuala-Warren appointed Professor of Law". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
10. "Minister overhauls Waitangi Tribunal membership". Radio New Zealand . 17 January 2025. Archived from the original on 18 January 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.