Tupua Fred Wetzell

Tupua Friedrich Wilhelm Wetzell O.S. (13 May 1933 - 21 December 2016)[1] was a Samoan businessman and philanthropist.

Wetsell was born in Moto’otua in Apia to a German-Samoan father and a Tongan-English mother.[2] He was educated at Apia Primary School in Samoa, and then at Porongahao Secondary School and Napier Boys' High School in New Zealand.[3] After completing an apprenticeship, he worked as a motor mechanic in Auckland before returning to Samoa where he ran a farm and a coconut plantation and worked as a scrap-metal merchant.[3] In 1964 he returned to New Zealand, where he established a service station, before returning permanently to Samoa in 1971.[1]

After failing to establish a resort at Lake Lanoto'o, in 1973 he founded Apia Concrete Products.[1] In 1986 he established a plantation and a bottled water company.[4] In 1996 he was appointed a director of the Sinalei Reef Resort.[4] In 1997 he was named Japan's Honorary Consul-General to Samoa.[3] From 2001 to 2006 he served on the board of Samoa Polytechnic.[4] From 2007 to 2011 he served on the council of the National University of Samoa.[4] Throughout his life he sponsored various sports teams and charities, including the Samoa International Game Fishing Association, Samoa Squash Rackets Association, Little Sisters’ of the Poor, and the Carmelite Sisters’ Monasteries of Samoa, Wallis & Futuna and Tonga.[4]

Honours and awards

Wetzell was granted the chiefly title of Tupua by his village for his philanthropic works.[2] In 2013 he was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun, with Gold Rays and Neck Ribbon, for his "ignificant contribution to the promotion of mutual understanding, and friendly relations between Japan and Samoa".[3]

In the 2014 Samoa Honours and Awards he was made a Companion of the Order of Samoa.[5]

The Tupua Fred Wetzell Championship Cup for the Vailima Marist rugby sevens tournament is named in his honour.[6][7]

References
  1. Lanuola Tupufia – Ah Tong (23 December 2016). "Nation mourns lovable Tupua". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  2. Cook, Kasia Renae (2017). Sauerkraut and Salt Water: The German-Tongan Diaspora Since 1932 (PDF) (PhD). University of Auckland. p. 148-149. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  3. Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa (25 December 2016). "Our Christmas tribute to Fred, who confessed: "Mum, I left my heart in Samoa."". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  4. "Tupua Fred Wetzell's life". Samoa Observer. 25 December 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  5. "Honours conferred". Samoa Observer. 22 December 2014.
  6. "Sixteen Men's teams sign up for Samoa's Vailima Marist 7s". Loop Samoa. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  7. Thomas Airey (2 February 2019). "Marist Sevens to feature growing women's tournament, Tupua Fred Wetzell Cup for men". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
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