Aliʻimuamua Sandra Alofivae

Alofivae set up a legal practice, King Alofivae Malosi, in 1994 with colleagues La-Verne King and Ida Malosi,[4] and became a barrister sole in 2005.[3] She has represented children and their families[1] and her practice become one of the biggest child protection practices in South Auckland.[3] She served as a Families Commissioner for six months[1][2] and her work in this role influenced the 2014 Vulnerable Children’s Act.[3] Alofivae was also elected to the Counties Manukau District Health Board in December 2010.[1][5] She served two terms on the board,[3][6] but did not stand again in the 2016 elections.[7] Alofivae has been the chair of the South Auckland Social Well-Being Board, which works with the government on issues facing pre-school children.[3]

In 2018, Alofivae was appointed to a Royal Commission of Inquiry, commissioned by the New Zealand government, to investigate abuse and neglect of people in state care and in faith-based institutions.[8] This Commission is scheduled to produce two reports: one in 2020 and one in 2023.[9]

In April 2019 the Commission did not answer questions on whether Alofivae, who is Presbyterian, had a conflict of interest.[10] Her subsequent conflict of interest management plan provided that she would not sit on any hearings relating to the Presbyterian Church,[11]

In the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, Alofivae was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the Pacific community and youth.[12][13] In 2018 she received a Blake Leader Award, presented by the Sir Peter Blake Trust.[3] She also has an honorific title bestowed to her by her family in the village of Sa'anapu, Samoa.[1]

Alofivae grew up in Māngere, Auckland.[1] Her father died when she was one year old.[3] She attended Epsom Girls' Grammar School, describing it as "a very white school" and saying "I didn’t experience any real racism until I started high school."[14] She is a mother of four and is a Presbyterian.[3]