Misa Telefoni Retzlaff
Encyclopedia
Misa Telefoni Retzlaff is a Samoa
n Cabinet Minister. He is currently Deputy Prime Minister and deputy leader of the Human Rights Protection Party
.
Retzlaff was educated at King's College
in Auckland
, New Zealand
. He studied law at the University of Auckland
before going on to practice law in Samoa. He was appointed Attorney-General of Samoa in 1986.
In 1988 he resigned his position as Attorney-general to run for election, winning the seat of Falelatai & Samatau. Initially part of the opposition, he joined the government of Tofilau Eti Alesana
in 1991 as Minister of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries and Shipping. In 1996 he became Minister of Health, and in 2001, Deputy Prime Minister. In addition to that role, he currently holds the portfolios of Commerce, Industry and Labour.
He has stated he will not be standing to retain the seat he has held for 22 years in the 2011 general election
.
Retzlaff is of German-Samoan descent, having inherited his German ancestry from his paternal grandfather. His name "Telefoni", is the name that was given by the Samoan community in the early twentieth century, to his grandfather, when he arrived in the German colony, as a public servant of the postal services, to introduce the telephone to the country.
He has had two books published; "Love and Money", a love story about the richest young bachelor in Auckland New Zealand falling in love with and marrying the young Samoan kitchen help from his exclusive boarding school; and "To Thine Own Self be True", a collection of articles, speeches and poems.
In February 2011 Telefoni confirmed he was retiring from politics at the 2011 election. See a short tribute to Misa Telefoni published in the Samoa Observer 9th March 2011, by his son Lemalu Hermann Paul Retzlaff. "Tribute to Misa Telefoni" - http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31878:tribute-to-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50
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 Cabinet Minister. He is currently Deputy Prime Minister and deputy leader of the Human Rights Protection Party
Human Rights Protection Party
The Human Rights Protection Party is a Samoan political party. It has been the dominant party in Samoan politics since 1982.The party was co-founded in May 1979 by Va'ai Kolone and Tofilau Eti Alesana in opposition to the government of Tupuola Efi...
.
Retzlaff was educated at King's College
King's College, Auckland
King's College is an independent secondary school in New Zealand. It was originally a boys-only school but now also admits girls in the sixth and seventh forms . The school has strong links to the Anglican church; the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, and the Dean of Auckland are permanent members of...
in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, 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...
. He studied law at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
before going on to practice law in Samoa. He was appointed Attorney-General of Samoa in 1986.
In 1988 he resigned his position as Attorney-general to run for election, winning the seat of Falelatai & Samatau. Initially part of the opposition, he joined the government of Tofilau Eti Alesana
Tofilau Eti Alesana
Tofilau Eti Alesana, AC, born Aualamalefalelima Alesana, was a Samoan politician. He was born in Vaitogi, Tutuila, American Samoa to a Samoan upper-class parents, Reverend James Alesana Fai'ivae and Vaoita Iosefa Mala'itai...
in 1991 as Minister of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries and Shipping. In 1996 he became Minister of Health, and in 2001, Deputy Prime Minister. In addition to that role, he currently holds the portfolios of Commerce, Industry and Labour.
He has stated he will not be standing to retain the seat he has held for 22 years in the 2011 general election
Samoan general election, 2011
A general election was held in Samoa on 4 March 2011, in which the people elected the 49 seats of the Fono for its 15th term. Unlike most neighbouring countries in the Pacific, Samoa has established party politics...
.
Retzlaff is of German-Samoan descent, having inherited his German ancestry from his paternal grandfather. His name "Telefoni", is the name that was given by the Samoan community in the early twentieth century, to his grandfather, when he arrived in the German colony, as a public servant of the postal services, to introduce the telephone to the country.
He has had two books published; "Love and Money", a love story about the richest young bachelor in Auckland New Zealand falling in love with and marrying the young Samoan kitchen help from his exclusive boarding school; and "To Thine Own Self be True", a collection of articles, speeches and poems.
In February 2011 Telefoni confirmed he was retiring from politics at the 2011 election. See a short tribute to Misa Telefoni published in the Samoa Observer 9th March 2011, by his son Lemalu Hermann Paul Retzlaff. "Tribute to Misa Telefoni" - http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31878:tribute-to-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50
External links
- Profile at Samoan Government