Honours/decorations

Samoan chiefly title of Su'a bestowed by the Matatufu village, Lotofaga District, Samoa

Current parliamentary roles

• Member, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee
• Spokesperson, Inter-Faith Dialogue
• Spokesperson, Local Government
• Spokesperson, Pacific Island Affairs
• Associate Spokesperson, Foreign Affairs

Former parliamentary roles

• Member, Education and Science Committee 2 April 2008-3 October 2008
• Member, Local Government and Environment Committee 2 April 2008-3 October 2008
• Associate Spokesperson, Pacific Island Affairs -15 October 2010
• Associate Spokesperson, Local Government 20 November 2008-3 February 2011
• Spokesperson, Customs 20 November 2008-19 December 2011
• Member, Auckland Governance Legislation Committee 28 May 2009-3 June 2009
• Non-voting member, Auckland Governance Legislation Committee 3 June 2009-20 October 2011
• Spokesperson, Employment 19 December 2011-25 February 2013
• Member, Social Services Committee 21 December 2011-27 February 2013

Personal details

Born Samoa, arrived in New Zealand 1969. Married with adult and young children. Mother's villages are Satapuala, Falefa, Sapo'e and Falevao. Father's villages are Matatufu, Lotofaga, Upolu and Satupaitea, Savaii.

Education/qualifications

• Satapuala, Otahuhu and Mayfield Primary
• Samoa College and Hillary College, Otara
• Brigham Young University
• Carrington Polytechnic Institute
• Henley Management College

Career

• Former printer
• Former family fruit shop business operator
• Former public servant for various government departments in New Zealand and Samoa
• Former Manager, Pacific Business Trust
• Former union official, New Zealand and Samoa trade union movement
• Former Steering Committee Member, South Pacific Oceanic Council of Trade Unions
• Former Union Organiser, Trade Union Education Authority (TUEA)
• Councillor for Otara, Manukau City Council 2001-2008
• Deputy Mayor, Manukau City Council 2007-2008
• List member of Parliament 31 March 2008-3 October 2008
• Member for Mangere 8 November 2008-

Community activities

• Former Chairperson, Otara Community Law Centre
• Former Councillor, Manukau Institute of Technology
• Former panelist, Counties Manukau District Health Board Community Panel
• Former committee member, Turn Your Life Around (TYLA) Management Committee
• Former political sponsor, Otara Youth Action Group-274 YouthCore
• Former trustee, Otara Fleamarket Committee
• Former Bishop's Youth Advisor, Hillary Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Former Chair, Rongomai Primary School Board of Trustees

Party activities

• Member, Labour Party 1986-
• Former Chairperson, Otara Samoan Branch, Otara Labour Electorate Committee
• Former Vice Chairperson, Manukau East Labour Electorate Committee
• Pacific representative, 2002 Moderating Committee
• Campaign Coordinator, Pacific Sector Council 2005
• Pacific Island Vice President, NZ Council 2006

Leisure activities

Family activities, genealogy, travel, reading, walking, going on an adventure, fixing houses, and watching a good movie.