Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi
Encyclopedia
Tupua Tamasese
Tupuola Tufuga Efi, also known as Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi,
and formerly known as Tupuola Efi, (born March 1, 1938) is a Samoa
n political figure who has been Samoa's head of state since 2007. Previously he was Prime Minister of Samoa
from 1976 to 1982 and again later in 1982.
On 16 June 2007 he was elected as O le Ao o le Malo
, Samoa's head of state, for a five-year term. He was officially sworn in as O le Ao o le Malo at Samoa's Parliament (Fono
) on 20 June 2007.
He is a member of one of the paramount Families of State (Aiga Tupu) where he holds the Tupua title of the SaTupua 'royal' family. He also holds the Tama-a-Aiga Tamasese title and the title of "Tui Atua".
Tupua first entered parliament
and became Prime Minister under the title Tupuola.
and Noue Irene Gustava Ta'isi Nelson.
Tupua attended primary school at the Marist Brothers School
at Mulivai in the Samoan capital of Apia. He continued his education at St. Patrick's College
in Silverstream
, Wellington, New Zealand. He was also educated at Victoria University of Wellington
, in New Zealand
's capital city
.
Tupua is married to Her Highness Masiofo Filifilia Imo, who is also known as Masiofo Filifilia Tamasese.
Tupua has been described as a defender and proponent of the Samoan language
.
in Samoa's Fono
, or Parliament
. He represented the Anoama'a East constituency as MP as a member of the Christian Democratic Party
. He served as Samoa's Minister
of Works
from 1970 until 1972.
Tupua served as Prime Minister
for two consecutive terms from 1976 to 1982. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister
from 1985 to 1988. It was during his second term as Prime Minister that the Public Service Association went on a general strike
in 1981, paralyzing the country for several months and paving the way for the opposition Human Rights Protection Party
's entry to government in 1982. The Human Rights Protection Party still governs Samoa today.
Tupua became Leader of the Opposition
following his Christian Democratic Party
's election defeat in 1982. He also headed the Samoan National Development Party
. He continued to serve Anoama'a East as MP until 2004 when he became one of the two members of Samoa's Council of Deputies along with Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II. Both Efi and Va'aletoa served as temporary acting heads of state (O le Ao o le Malo) following the death of Malietoa Tanumafili II in May 2007.
(parliament) and thus the decision was unanimous. His election was welcomed by many Samoans in New Zealand. He was officially sworn into office on 20 June 2007.
Tupua has served as an adjunct professor for Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi in New Zealand
. He later went on to serve as an Associate Member of the Matahauariki Institute at Waikato University. Additionally, he has held a position as PhD examiner at Australian National University
in Canberra
for Pacific and Samoan history
.
Tupua is a former resident scholar of the Pacific Studies Centre of the Australian National University and the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies at University of Canterbury
in New Zealand.
Tupua has helped to begin excavations at Samoa's important Pulemelei Mound
archaeological site. Samoans, under Tupua Tamasese, carried out a ceremony to honor Thor Heyerdahl
for his contributions to Polynesia
and the Pulemelei Mound excavations in 2003.http://www.kon-tiki.no/Events/indexeng.html
In late 2007 Tupua established an overseas Boarding School Scholarship to St. Patrick's College, Silverstream
, which allows one student per year to live and be schooled in New Zealand
for the entirety of their college years, beginning in 2008. Reaction to this saw a media storm as well as a flurry of Samoans living in Wellington
to assemble at at the college. Attendees included Prime Minister Helen Clark
, Catholic
Archbishop John Dew and Victoria University of Wellington
professor Galumalemale Hunkin.
His visit back to Silverstream was timely as this was also the first year that a Samoan student was appointed Head Boy, Sofara Aiono and student leaders Johnson Taeao and Lafaele Mapusua-Faitoto'a.
. He has written three books, as well as numerous scholarly journals and publications.
Tupua Tamasese
Tupua Tamasese is the title of one of Samoa's four important paramount chiefs. Samoa's other three important paramount chiefs are the Malietoa, Mata'afa and Tu'imaleali'ifano....
Tupuola Tufuga Efi, also known as Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi,
and formerly known as Tupuola Efi, (born March 1, 1938) is a 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 political figure who has been Samoa's head of state since 2007. Previously he was Prime Minister of Samoa
Prime Minister of Samoa
This is a list of Prime Ministers of Samoa from the establishment of that office in 1875 until the present day.-List of Prime Ministers of Samoa :-See also:*Samoa**Politics of Samoa...
from 1976 to 1982 and again later in 1982.
On 16 June 2007 he was elected as O le Ao o le Malo
O le Ao o le Malo
O le Ao o le Malo is the Samoan head of state, which is the title's rough translation....
, Samoa's head of state, for a five-year term. He was officially sworn in as O le Ao o le Malo at Samoa's Parliament (Fono
Fono
The Legislative Assembly is the Parliament of Samoa based in the capital Apia where the country's central administration is situated.In the Samoan language, the Legislative Assembly of Samoa is sometimes referred to as the Samoan Fono while the government of the country is referred to as the...
) on 20 June 2007.
He is a member of one of the paramount Families of State (Aiga Tupu) where he holds the Tupua title of the SaTupua 'royal' family. He also holds the Tama-a-Aiga Tamasese title and the title of "Tui Atua".
Tupua first entered parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
and became Prime Minister under the title Tupuola.
Early and personal life
Tupua was born on March 1, 1938 at Moto'otua in Samoa. He is the son of Tupua Tamasese Mea'oleTupua Tamasese Mea'ole
Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole, CBE was the Tupua Tamasese from 1929 to 1963, a Samoan paramount chief. He held the post O le Ao o le Malo jointly with Malietoa Tanumafili II from 1962 until his death in the next year....
and Noue Irene Gustava Ta'isi Nelson.
Tupua attended primary school at the Marist Brothers School
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
at Mulivai in the Samoan capital of Apia. He continued his education at St. Patrick's College
St. Patrick's College, Silverstream
St Patrick's College is an Integrated Catholic boys' day and boarding Secondary School located in Silverstream, Upper Hutt, New Zealand. It was established by the Society of Mary in 1931 when the original St Patrick's College, Wellington was intended to be moved to a larger site more suited to a...
in Silverstream
Silverstream
Silverstream is a suburb of Upper Hutt in the lower North Island of New Zealand. It is at the southern end of the city close to the Taita Gorge, which separates Upper Hutt from Lower Hutt...
, Wellington, New Zealand. He was also educated 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...
, in 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...
's capital city
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
.
Tupua is married to Her Highness Masiofo Filifilia Imo, who is also known as Masiofo Filifilia Tamasese.
Tupua has been described as a defender and proponent of the Samoan language
Samoan language
Samoan Samoan Samoan (Gagana Sāmoa, is the language of the Samoan Islands, comprising the independent country of Samoa and the United States territory of American Samoa. It is an official language—alongside English—in both jurisdictions. Samoan, a Polynesian language, is the first language for most...
.
Prime Minister of Samoa
Tupua began his political career in 1966 when he became an MPMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in Samoa's Fono
Fono
The Legislative Assembly is the Parliament of Samoa based in the capital Apia where the country's central administration is situated.In the Samoan language, the Legislative Assembly of Samoa is sometimes referred to as the Samoan Fono while the government of the country is referred to as the...
, or Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
. He represented the Anoama'a East constituency as MP as a member of the Christian Democratic Party
Christian Democratic Party (Samoa)
The Christian Democratic Party was a political party in Samoa. The party was founded in February 1985 by the supporters of former Prime Minister Tupuola Taisi Tufuga Efi...
. He served as Samoa's Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
of Works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
from 1970 until 1972.
Tupua served as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Samoa
This is a list of Prime Ministers of Samoa from the establishment of that office in 1875 until the present day.-List of Prime Ministers of Samoa :-See also:*Samoa**Politics of Samoa...
for two consecutive terms from 1976 to 1982. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
from 1985 to 1988. It was during his second term as Prime Minister that the Public Service Association went on a general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
in 1981, paralyzing the country for several months and paving the way for the opposition 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...
's entry to government in 1982. The Human Rights Protection Party still governs Samoa today.
Tupua became Leader of the Opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
following his Christian Democratic Party
Christian Democratic Party (Samoa)
The Christian Democratic Party was a political party in Samoa. The party was founded in February 1985 by the supporters of former Prime Minister Tupuola Taisi Tufuga Efi...
's election defeat in 1982. He also headed the Samoan National Development Party
Samoan National Development Party
The Samoan National Development Party was a political party in Samoa, and the country's main opposition party between 1988 and 2003.The party was formed from a merger of the Christian Democratic Party and Samoa National Party in April 1988. At the 2001 election the party won 23.5% of popular...
. He continued to serve Anoama'a East as MP until 2004 when he became one of the two members of Samoa's Council of Deputies along with Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II. Both Efi and Va'aletoa served as temporary acting heads of state (O le Ao o le Malo) following the death of Malietoa Tanumafili II in May 2007.
O le Ao o le Malo (Head of state)
On May 11, 2007, following the death of Malietoa Tanumafili II, Samoa's head of state since independence in 1962, Tupua became one of the two acting heads of state as a member of the Council of Deputies. Tupua was elected Head of state on 16 June 2007. His was the only nomination put forth in Samoa's FonoFono
The Legislative Assembly is the Parliament of Samoa based in the capital Apia where the country's central administration is situated.In the Samoan language, the Legislative Assembly of Samoa is sometimes referred to as the Samoan Fono while the government of the country is referred to as the...
(parliament) and thus the decision was unanimous. His election was welcomed by many Samoans in New Zealand. He was officially sworn into office on 20 June 2007.
Academia
Tupua has held a number of academic positions during and after his political career as an MP and Prime Minister.Tupua has served as an adjunct professor for Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi in 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 later went on to serve as an Associate Member of the Matahauariki Institute at Waikato University. Additionally, he has held a position as PhD examiner at Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
for Pacific and Samoan history
History of Samoa
-Myths:According to legend, Samoa shares the common Polynesian ancestor of Tagaloa; according to many legends, Samoa was Tagaloa's first creation...
.
Tupua is a former resident scholar of the Pacific Studies Centre of the Australian National University and the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies at University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
in New Zealand.
Tupua has helped to begin excavations at Samoa's important Pulemelei Mound
Pulemelei Mound
The Pulemelei mound is the largest and most ancient structure in Polynesia.It is situated in Letolo Plantation in the Palauli district, at the east end of Savai'i island in Samoa....
archaeological site. Samoans, under Tupua Tamasese, carried out a ceremony to honor Thor Heyerdahl
Thor Heyerdahl
Thor Heyerdahl was a Norwegian ethnographer and adventurer with a background in zoology and geography. He became notable for his Kon-Tiki expedition, in which he sailed by raft from South America to the Tuamotu Islands...
for his contributions to Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
and the Pulemelei Mound excavations in 2003.http://www.kon-tiki.no/Events/indexeng.html
In late 2007 Tupua established an overseas Boarding School Scholarship to St. Patrick's College, Silverstream
St. Patrick's College, Silverstream
St Patrick's College is an Integrated Catholic boys' day and boarding Secondary School located in Silverstream, Upper Hutt, New Zealand. It was established by the Society of Mary in 1931 when the original St Patrick's College, Wellington was intended to be moved to a larger site more suited to a...
, which allows one student per year to live and be schooled in 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...
for the entirety of their college years, beginning in 2008. Reaction to this saw a media storm as well as a flurry of Samoans living in Wellington
Wellington
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 assemble at at the college. Attendees included Prime Minister Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
, Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Archbishop John Dew and 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...
professor Galumalemale Hunkin.
His visit back to Silverstream was timely as this was also the first year that a Samoan student was appointed Head Boy, Sofara Aiono and student leaders Johnson Taeao and Lafaele Mapusua-Faitoto'a.
Publications
Tupua is a writer and author due to his experiences in government and academiaAcademia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
. He has written three books, as well as numerous scholarly journals and publications.