Luamanuvao Winnie Laban
Encyclopedia
Luamanuvao Winifred "Winnie" Alexandra Laban, QSO
(born 1955) is a New Zealand
politician. She was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mana electorate
, representing the Labour Party
. She was the Labour Party’s spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs and spokesperson for Interfaith Dialogue.
to Samoa
n parents. Before entering politics she was a family therapist and community development worker, focusing particularly on the Pacific Island
community of New Zealand.
Laban graduated with a degree in Social Work from the Victoria University of Wellington
and later in Development Studies from Massey University
. In 1992 she was bestowed the Samoa
n matai
chiefly title Luamanuvao from the village of Vaiala, Vaimauga, in recognition of her work.
as a list MP, becoming New Zealand's first Pacific Island woman MP. In the 2002 election
she successfully contested the Mana electorate
, formerly held by Labour MP Graham Kelly
. In 2005
she was re-elected by a majority of 6,734 votes She was Minister of Pacific Island Affairs (5 November 2007 – 19 November 2008). Labour was defeated in the 2008 election
, depriving Laban of her ministerial role, but Laban retained her electorate seat and most of her majority.
In December 2009 her Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Amendment Bill, which would grant greater rights to the families of those seeking or undergoing treatment, was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill was defeated at its first reading.
On 10 August 2010 Laban announced she would resign from Parliament to take up a position as a Assistant Vice Chancellor at Victoria University of Wellington
, leading to a by-election in the Mana electorate
. She ceased being a Member of Parliament on 15 October 2010.
Queen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
(born 1955) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician. She was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mana electorate
Mana (New Zealand electorate)
Mana is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate north of Wellington. It is currently held by Kris Faafoi MP.-Population centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* Paraparaumu * Raumati...
, representing the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
. She was the Labour Party’s spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs and spokesperson for Interfaith Dialogue.
Early life and family
Laban was born in WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
to Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n parents. Before entering politics she was a family therapist and community development worker, focusing particularly on the Pacific Island
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
community of New Zealand.
Laban graduated with a degree in Social Work from the Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
and later in Development Studies from Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
. In 1992 she was bestowed the Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n matai
Fa'amatai
Fa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society.It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the Samoa Islands, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa...
chiefly title Luamanuvao from the village of Vaiala, Vaimauga, in recognition of her work.
Member of Parliament
Laban was first elected to Parliament in the 1999 electionNew Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
as a list MP, becoming New Zealand's first Pacific Island woman MP. In the 2002 election
New Zealand general election, 2002
The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
she successfully contested the Mana electorate
Mana (New Zealand electorate)
Mana is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate north of Wellington. It is currently held by Kris Faafoi MP.-Population centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* Paraparaumu * Raumati...
, formerly held by Labour MP Graham Kelly
Graham Kelly
Graham Kelly is a former New Zealand politician.-Member of Parliament:As a member of the Labour Party, he served as MP for Porirua from the 1987 elections until the 1996 elections, when he became MP for the new seat of Mana. In the 2002 elections, he did not stand as an electorate candidate,...
. In 2005
New Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
she was re-elected by a majority of 6,734 votes She was Minister of Pacific Island Affairs (5 November 2007 – 19 November 2008). Labour was defeated in the 2008 election
New Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
, depriving Laban of her ministerial role, but Laban retained her electorate seat and most of her majority.
In December 2009 her Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Amendment Bill, which would grant greater rights to the families of those seeking or undergoing treatment, was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill was defeated at its first reading.
On 10 August 2010 Laban announced she would resign from Parliament to take up a position as a Assistant Vice Chancellor at Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, leading to a by-election in the Mana electorate
Mana by-election, 2010
A by-election was held in the New Zealand electorate of Mana on 20 November 2010. The seat was vacated by former Labour Pacific Island Affairs Minister Winnie Laban, who announced her resignation from the New Zealand Parliament on 10 August 2010 following her appointment as Assistant Vice...
. She ceased being a Member of Parliament on 15 October 2010.