Independent

Honours/decorations

• New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal for services to the community
• Samoan chiefly title of Taito bestowed by the village of Manase, Savaii, Western Samoa, 1975

Former Parliamentary Roles

• Labour Spokesperson, Pacific Island Affairs 1993-1999
• NZ Parliamentary Delegate, Vanuatu 1994-1994
• NZ Parliamentary Delegate, Pacific Bilateral Relations, Melanesia and Polynesia 1994-1995
• NZ Parliamentary Delegate, International Parliamentary Union, Spain 1995-1995
• Chairperson, Social Services Committee December 1999-2002
• Deputy-Chairperson, Law and Order Committee December 22 December 1999-18 June 2003
• Member, Law and Order Committee 22 December 1999-18 June 2003 and 29 August 2002-18 June 2003
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Employment 15 August 2002-19 May 2003
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Justice 15 August 2002-19 May 2003
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs 15 August 2002-19 May 2003
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Social Services 15 August 2002-19 May 2003
• Minister of State 19 May 2003-19 October 2005
• Associate Minister of Justice 19 May 2003-19 October 2005
• Associate Minister of Pacific Island Affairs 19 May 2003-19 October 2005
• Associate Minister of Social Development and Employment 19 May 2003-19 October 2005
• Member, Social Services Committee 9 November 2005-28 February 2007
• Member, Transport and Industrial Relations Committee 9 November 2005-28 February 2007
• Member, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee 28 February 2007-3 October 2008

Personal details

Born 26 September 1952, Apia, Western Samoa. Arrived in NZ at age seven, married with two children. Of Samoan, Cook Island, English and Jewish descent. First MP of Pacific Island descent in the NZ Parliament

Education/qualifications

• Tawa College
• Victoria University of Wellington

Career

• Computer accounts, Treasury Department 1973-1974
• Sub Branch Secretary, West Coast Branch, NZ Meatworkers Union 1976-1983
• District Secretary Northland, Hotel, Hospital & Restaurant Union 1988-1990
• Union Official, Service Workers Union 1990-1993
• Member for Otara 6 November 1993-6 September 1996
• Member for Mangere 12 October 1996-8 November 2008

Awards

First Pacific Islander to be awarded the Boys Brigade Queens Badge 1970

Community activities

• Chairperson, Samoan Sports Awards Board International 1983-1985
• Co-ordinator for Western Samoan Government, Silver Jubilee Celebrations NZ International 1987-1987
• Executive, Joint Council of Samoan Church Ministers and Community Leaders International 1990-1997
• Member, Committee assisting in Cyclone Relief Operations for Cyclone Ofa International 1990-1990
• Samoan Community Representative, Cyclone Val Committee International 1991-1993
• Member, Committee assisting in Cyclone Relief Operations for Cyclone Val International 1992-1992
• Organiser, official visit to Western Samoa by the Maori Queen, Dame Te Ariki Nui Te Atarangi kahu International 1994-1994
• Patron, Fringe Festival of the Arts 'Aiga le Tai' Manono Island, Western Samoa International 1996-1996
• Keynote Speaker, Wilton Park Conference, West Sussex, England International February 1998-February 1998
• Chairperson, Samoa Televise NZ Board International 1999-1999
• Patron, Auckland Cook Island Volleyball Association Regional
• Patron, Auckland Samoan Rugby Football Union Association Regional
• Patron, Auckland University Samoan Students Association Regional
• Patron, Fesoasoani Trust, Auckland Regional
• Patron, Manukau Outrigger Canoe Club Regional
• Patron, Marist Old Boys Association Regional
• Patron, New Zealand Universities Samoan Students' Association Regional
• Patron, Reds Rugby Club, Otahuhu/Mangere Regional
• Patron, Vaiala Ulalei Golf Club, Auckland Regional
• Secretary, Pacific Island Advisory Council, Wellington Regional 1973-1973
• President, Wellington Samoan Sports Club Regional 1976-1985
• President, South Auckland Matai Council Regional 1990-1994
• Chairperson, Otara Housing Committee Regional 1990-1992
• Former Executive in Charge, Auckland Samoan Community Regional

Party activities

• Member, Labour Party 1976-14 February 2007
• Campaign worker for John Terris, Petone, Lower Hutt 1981-1981
• Campaign worker, Hutt Valley 1984-1984
• Campaign worker for Richard Northey, Mt Eden 1987-1987
• Member, Labour Electorate Committee 1988-1989
• Pacific Island Representative, Labour Party, New Zealand Council 1988-1994
• Vice Chairperson, Otara Labour Electorate Committee 1990-1993
• First Pacific Island Vice President of the NZ Labour Party 1993-1994
• Member, Foreign Affairs Caucus Committee 1993-1999
• Member, Labour Caucus Delegation to Taiwan October 1998-October 1998

Leisure activities

History (Polynesian migration in the Pacific), oil painting, golf, fishing