Samoa,officially the Independent State ofSamoa and until 1997 known as Western Samoa,is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands,two smaller,inhabited islands,and several smaller,uninhabited islands,including the Aleipata Islands. The capital city is Apia. The Lapita people discovered and settled the Samoan Islands around 3,500 years ago. They developed a Samoan language and Samoan cultural identity.
Politics of Samoa takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic state whereby the Prime Minister of Samoa is the head of government. Existing alongside the country's Western styled political system is the fa'amatai chiefly system of socio-political governance and organisation,central to understanding Samoa's political system.
Mark James Gosche is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party. He was born in Auckland to Samoan parents,and has been active in New Zealand's Pacific Islander community.
Luamanuvao Dame Winifred Alexandra Laban is a former New Zealand politician. She served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mana electorate,representing the Labour Party,and was the Labour Party's spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs and for interfaith dialogue. Laban is the Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika) at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and is a respected leader in the local Pasifika community.
Aupito Tofae Su'a William Sio is a politician who became a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives on 1 April 2008 for the Labour Party as a list MP. Since the November 2008 election,he has represented the Māngere electorate.
Fiame Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II was a Western Samoan paramount chief and politician. The holder of the Mataʻafa title,one of the four main Samoan chieftainships,he became the first prime minister of Western Samoa in 1959,serving until 1970. He held the position again from 1973 until his death in 1975.
Ātua is an ancient political district of Samoa,consisting of most of the eastern section of Upolu and the island Tutuila. Ātua is ruled by the Tui Ātua together with the group of six senior orators of Lufilufi and 13 senior matai from throughout Ātua,comprising the Fale Ātua. The fono (meeting) of Atua's rulers takes place in Lufilufi on the great malae of Lalogafu'afu'a.
The O le Ao Mamalu o le Malo is the Head of State of Samoa. The position is described in Part III of the 1960 Samoan constitution. At the time the constitution was adopted,it was anticipated that future heads of state would be chosen from among the four Tama a 'Aiga "matai" paramount chiefs in line with customary protocol. This is not a constitutional requirement,so Samoa can be considered a parliamentary republic rather than a constitutional monarchy. The government Press Secretariat describes Head of State as a "ceremonial president". The holder is given the formal style of Highness,as are the heads of the four paramount chiefly dynasties.
George Sydney Wood is a former mayor of North Shore City and a former Auckland Councillor. He was the only North Shore City mayor to be elected for three terms and later represented North Shore ward on the Auckland Council between 2010 and 2016. He is now the Deputy Chair of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board.
Faleomavaega Titimaea "Dicky" Tafua is a former rugby union prop and the former coach of the Samoa Sevens rugby team. He took up the position of coach in 2006. He is a former international for Samoa and captained the first Samoa team that played against Wales in 1989. He led Samoa to win their first Wellington sevens and Hong Kong sevens tournament in the 2006/07 season. In February 2009 it was announced that Tafua would coach Manu Samoa,replacing Niko Palamo.
Peseta Samuelu Masunu "Sam" Lotu-Iiga is a former member of the New Zealand Parliament for the Maungakiekie electorate,having been elected in the 2008 election. Lotu-Iiga was one of two National Party Pacific Island MPs. Lotu-Iiga holds the Samoan high chiefly title of Peseta.
Henry Tuakeu Puna is a Cook Islands politician,and the current Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum. He was Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from November 2010 to October 2020. Since 2006 he has been leader of the Cook Islands Party.
Mata'afa Faumuina Fiame Mulinu'u I was a high chief of Samoa and a leader of the country's pro-independence Mau movement during the 1920's and 1930's. He was the holder of high-ranking ali'i chiefly titles:the Tama-a-'aiga Mata'afa,Fiame from Lotofaga and Faumuina from Lepea.
Lefau Harry Schuster is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the FAST Party and was a founding member of the Tautua Samoa Party. He is the cousin of fellow FAST MP Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster.
Tufele Faatoia Liamatua,also spelled Tufele Li'amatua,was an American Samoan politician,businessman and paramount chief. He served as the first elected Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa under former Governor Peter Tali Coleman from 1978 to 1985.
Jennifer Teresia Salesa is a New Zealand politician and member of the Labour Party who has served as a Member of Parliament since 2014. She was first elected as MP for Manukau East,and after its abolition in 2020 won the replacement electorate of Panmure-Ōtāhuhu. She served as a Cabinet Minister in the Sixth Labour Government as Minister for Building and Construction,Minister of Customs and Minister for Ethnic Communities from 2017 until 6 November 2020.
Fa'anānāEfeso Collins is a New Zealand politician who is an Auckland Councillor of Samoan and Tokelauan descent. He was raised in Otara,and is the youngest of six children. He is married to Fia Collins,and has one daughter. Collins carries the Samoan matai title of Fa’anana from the village of Satufia,Satupaitea,Savai'i.
Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Eti Sualauvi II is a Samoan politician who is the current O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa,in office since 2017. He was appointed to the Tama-a-ʻaiga title of Tuimalealiʻifano in July 1977,one of four paramount titles of Samoa.
Vaiotu Mulitalo Sealiimalietoa Siafausa Vui was a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister.
Fiugalu Eteuati Eteuati is a Samoan politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
