Obituaries

Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Deputy Prime Minister) Link to this

I move, That this House notes with sadness the death of His Highness MalietoaTanumafili II, Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa, that it extends its condolences to his family and the people of Samoa at this time, and looks forward

His Highness MalietoaTanumafili was elected to the Malietoa title in 1940, and has been one of Samoa’s four tama-a-aiga—paramount chiefs—since that time. His career of service to his people began in 1940 as one of the two fautua—leading high chiefs—who served as the official Samoan advisers to the successive New Zealand administrators, and then as a member of the pre-independence Council of State in 1949. He played a leading role in guiding his country to independence in 1962, and on independence he assumed the office of head of State jointly with TupuaTamaseseMea’ola. On the death of TupuaTamasese in 1963, MalietoaTanumafili became the sole head of State for life.

Throughout his long reign as head of State, His Highness represented Samoa with wisdom, humour, and insight. He defined his post through gracious dignity and sincere warmth of character. He was a man of great humility and a nationalist. He was immensely proud of his country, but an intelligent leader and well aware of the need to offer a guiding hand rather than an oppressive one. He was regarded as the traditional father of both Samoas—not only independent Samoa but also the United States territory of American Samoa. He was regarded throughout the region as an excellent role model and an outstanding leader. MalietoaTanumafili II was deeply respected throughout his life for the great service he carried out for his people in Samoa. He will be greatly missed—not only within Samoa but here in New Zealand and in the wider Pacific region. E uamalietoa! E uamalietau!

JOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this

The National Party wholeheartedly supports this resolution and pays tribute to His Highness MalietoaTanumafili II, the father of Samoa. MalietoaTanumafili, as the head of State of Samoa, played a very special role in the bond that ties our two countries. At the time of his death at age 94 he was the world’s longest-serving head of State. His links with New Zealand mirror his nation’s links to New Zealand, and his special attachment to New Zealand mirrors Samoa’s special attachment to this country.

He was educated in New Zealand at St Stephen’s College in Auckland and at Wesley College in Pukekohe. Like many of his people who are now one of the essential ingredients that make up the people called Kiwis, he made a special contribution to this country. He visited New Zealand many times, including at the invitation of the late Māori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu.

But MalietoaTanumafili was not just a figurehead to his people; he also provided them with real leadership. He is credited with preserving Samoa’s stability when some of its newly independent Pacific neighbours were suffering violence and unrest. Through those testing times he provided calm and strength. For that, his people will be eternally grateful.

To the Samoan people in Samoa, and to the Samoan people who have made New Zealand their home, we extend our deepest condolences at his passing.

Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) Link to this

The death of His Highness MalietoaTanumafili II last Friday night is indeed an event of great sadness not only in Samoa but here in New Zealand and the wider Pacific region. His Highness was a great and valued friend of New Zealand. As has been said, his secondary education was in New Zealand. He was well known to successive New Zealand Governments, both as an official Samoan adviser and in the important role he played in leading his country to independence in 1962. It is significant that New Zealand has a treaty of friendship with only one country, Samoa, and our shared unique relationship is due in no small part to MalietoaTanumafili’s influence as a founding father of modern Samoa.

His Highness was one of the world’s longest-serving heads of State, and one of the most respected and admired statesmen of the South Pacific region. He has always been held in the greatest respect in Samoan society, as well as within New Zealand and the wider Pacific region. New Zealand First joins the Deputy Prime Minister and other members of this House in offering our sincere condolences and sympathies to the people of Samoa at the great loss of their esteemed head of State, His Highness MalietoaTanumafili II.

KEITH LOCKE (Green) Link to this

The Green Party fully endorses the comments made by Dr Cullen, Mr Key, and Mr Peters, in mourning the death of His Highness MalietoaTanumafili, the revered head of State of Samoa. It reminds us of the very close relationship—the warmth and friendship—that New Zealand has with the Samoan people. We extend to the people in Samoa and to the Samoan community in New Zealand our greatest sympathy, and we stand with them on this day. Thank you.

Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Māori Party) Link to this

Kai te Rangatira kaiwhiriwhiri o tōtātou Whare neihurinoa ki ngākaiārahi o ngāpāti, me ngā mema katoa o te Whare Pāremata, tēnā koutou katoa.

Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) Link to this

United Future joins with other members in expressing our condolences to the family and people of Samoa on the death of His Highness MalietoaTanumafili II, the revered long-serving head of State of that country.

Other members have spoken about Malietoa’s length of service. I want to put another context to it. This man is an extraordinary link with all of Samoa’s contemporary history. When we consider that he is the descendant of one of four main princely families, that he succeeded to the title Malietoa in 1940, and that he became a head of State jointly in 1962 and the sole head of State a year later, we see that that period of time really reflects the total modern development of Samoa post the German colonial experience. I think the loss for his people is not just the loss of a revered, respected, and deeply loved leader but a loss of that continuity of history. The challenge for Malietoa’s successor, whoever that may be, will be to bring those strands back together. So our thoughts are very much with the members of his family at their time of grief, but also of the people whom he loved so much, who will be contemplating, literally, life after Malietoa.

We stand by the people of Samoa in their moment of grief. We wish them well for the future and we salute a great leader, who has left us and them.

RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) Link to this

The ACT party rises with the entire New Zealand Parliament to send this Parliament’s condolences to the people of Samoa and to the family of His Highness MalietoaTanumafili II. It is amazing to think that he took over as king—as leader of his country—at a time in our history that was the darkest days of World War II. That seems to us like a wholly different era from today. This man was king and has been king for all of that time. This is a sad time, but we should also celebrate what a tremendous life this man led, what he achieved in his life, and what the people of Samoa have achieved. I think that Malietoa can stand as an inspiration for all of us who feel as though we are just reaching our stride in our lives, too, because he shows that we can have a very, very long life and a very, very productive life indeed. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

TAITO PHILLIP FIELD (Independent—Mangere) Link to this

I lau Afioga le Fonofetalai, Afiosui o tagata mauli o tagata fenua o Aotearoa. I le mamalu, male päia o le Maotanei. Outetautala atu ma le agagafaanoanoaaua le “tuumalo”, pe ole valaaupäia a le Atua, i le, Ao mamalu, ole Malo o Samoa lona afioga mamaluiletapaauFaasisina, e afio, ilonanofoavaevaeloloa, ilonatalanaatoatoa, ma lonafalafolaloa, e faalogoiai Samoa, i le susugai le MalietoaTanumafili, le lua.

[Madam Speaker, representatives of tangata whenua of Aotearoa, to the dignitaries and representatives of this Parliament, I speak with a spirit of sadness in regard to the passing of Samoa’s head of State SusugaMalietoaTanumafili II.]

It is indeed a sad time for all Samoans to hear of the passing of His Highness SusugaMalietoaTanumafili II, head of State of Samoa. I pay tribute, as other colleagues have this afternoon, and honour to his life’s work and to his memory and legacy. It is a proud legacy to add to his forefathers’ and their ancestral history, from the Tongan era to receiving the gospel and the conversion of Samoans to Christianity.

Malietoa has served his people and his country well from before independence in 1962, and for 45 years as Samoa’s head of State. He gave committed service with humility and dignity as the father of the nation, and he gained deep affection, love, and respect from his people, which helped to forge stability and harmony for 45 years in Samoa. He encouraged and took pride in the achievements of his people, both inside and outside Samoa.

On behalf of the Samoan community in New Zealand, I extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to SusugaMalietoa’s children and family and to Aiga Sa-Malietoa. Also, to the Council of Deputies, the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Parliament, and the people of Samoa, I ask that God may comfort them during this time of sadness. We give thanks, praise, and honour to God for Malietoa’s life and service to the Government, nation, and the people of Samoa.

“Uapauutoa, uamaimauaiaupega o le taua.” Ia pau se toa, aetulai mai se toaaua Samoa ma lonamalo.

Ia manuia le malagii le susugai le MalietoaTanumafili le lua. Faatofa, ma ia Soifua, ilau Afioga, i le TapaauFaasisina, le tama ole tätouAtunuu - Soifua.

[“Great warriors have fallen, effective weapons of war are wasted.”

All the best for the journey of MalietoaTanumafili II. Goodbye and farewell to TapaauFaasisina, the father of the Samoan nation—farewell.]

Madam SPEAKER Link to this

I ask all members to stand and observe a moment’s silence.