Tafua Maluelue Tafua

Tafua Maluelue Tafua (also known as Michael Tafua) is a Samoan politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.

Tafua Maluelue Tafua
Tafua Maluelue Tafua speaking in the New Zealand Parliament, 2013
Member of the Samoa Parliament
for Aleipata Itupa-I-Lalo
In office
4 March 2011 – 9 April 2021
Preceded byMuagututi’ a Siaosi Meredith
Succeeded byFiugalu Eteuati Eteuati
Personal details
Political partyHuman Rights Protection Party

Life and career in New Zealand

Tafua moved to New Zealand in 1974, where he became an officer in the New Zealand Police.[1] While working as a police officer he participated in the Dawn Raids aimed at deporting Pasifika overstayers.[2] He served as a police officer for 23 years, resigning in 1996 in protest at the low sentence given to the drunk-driver who had killed his son.[3]

In 1992 he was elected to the Birkenhead-Northcote Community Board. In 1998 he was elected to the North Shore City Council.[1] He was re-elected to the council in the 2001 local body elections[4] and again in 2004.[5]

Return to Samoa

In 2004 he was appointed paramount chief of the village of Saleaaumua in the Atua District.[1] He resigned from the council in August 2007.[6]

After returning to Samoa he served as a member of the Public Service Commission from 2007 until 2010.[7][8] He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in the 2011 election and appointed Associate Minister to the Prime Minister. In 2013 he called for New Zealand to change its immigration policy and make it easier for Samoans to work in New Zealand.[9] He later attended the 2013 Pacific Parliamentary Forum in New Zealand.[10]

He was re-elected in the 2016 election but not reappointed as an Associate Minister.[11] He lost his seat in the 2021 election. During an election petition over his loss, he admitted to past electoral corruption.[12] The court hearing the petition dismissed the five charges of bribery levelled against him.[13]

Personal life

Tafua is the older brother of Manu Samoa coach Titimaea Tafua.[14]

References
  1. "City councillor appointed Samoan paramount chief". Scoop. 19 February 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  2. "Untold Pacific History - Episode 1: Waking Up to the Dawn Raids (Aotearoa)". RNZ. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  3. Rachel Grunwell (23 October 2010). "Two Drinks Max: Responsibility is looking out for your mates, too". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  4. "LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS". Sunday Star-Times. 14 October 2001. p. A4 – via EBSCOHost.
  5. "Local vote: City Councils". New Zealand Herald. 11 October 2004 – via EBSCOHost.
  6. "City councillor resigns". Scoop. 3 August 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  7. "About the Public Service Commission of Samoa". Samoa Public Service Commission. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008.
  8. "PSC Annual Report 2008 - 2010" (PDF). Samoa Public Service Commission. 6 October 2010. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2019.
  9. Michael Sergel and Finian Scott (22 April 2013). "Samoan minister calls on NZ to rethink 'easier' Pacific migration". Pacific Scoop. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  10. "Pacific Parliament Political Leadership Forum 17-22nd April 2013". Samoa High Commission. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  11. "Samoa PM Appoints 13 Associate Ministers". Pacific Islands Report. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  12. Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (28 June 2021). "Former M.P. admits to corruption". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  13. Soli Wilson (5 July 2021). "Aleipata-Itupa-i-Lalo Member-elect guilty: Court". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  14. BJ Telefoni Lima (11 October 2021). "Former Manu Samoa Coach Runs under FAST Ticket for Aleipata By-Election". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
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