Lopaoʻo Natanielu Mua Explained

Office4:Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Scientific Research
Primeminister4:Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi
Term Start4:2 September 2017
Term End4:24 May 2021
Predecessor4:Laʻauli Leuatea Polataivao
Successor4:Laʻauli Leuatea Polataivao
Constituency Mp10:Vaisigano No. 1
Parliament10:Samoan
Term Start10:2 August 2011
Term End10:9 April 2021
Predecessor10:Tufuga Gafoleata Faitua
Successor10:Niuava Eti Malolo
Party:Human Rights Protection Party

Lopaoʻo Natanielu Mua is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.

Lopaoʻo grew up in a family of farmers and worked in farming and civil construction projects in both Samoa and New Zealand. He holds a degree in law from the University of the South Pacific and a degree in advance parliamentary governance from McGill University in Canada.[1]

He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in the 2016 Samoan general election. He was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Scientific Research in September 2017, replacing Laauli Leuatea Polataivao.[2] As minister of agriculture and fisheries Lopao'o proposed to stop the sale of fresh coconuts to Samoa as a way to encourage farmers to meet the growing demand for copra.[3] During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Lopaoʻo choose to keep importing food from China, as other countries in the region halted all trade with China in an effort to stall the spread of the virus.[4]

He is married to Siaumau and they have eight children. He is a Lay Preacher and a member of the Methodist Standing Committee Board.[1]

He lost his seat in the 2021 Samoan general election.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. en-US. 2020-09-12.
  2. Web site: Samoa has a new Agriculture and Fisheries Minister . RNZ . 2 September 2017 . 25 November 2020.
  3. Web site: Minister wants to stop sale of niu in Samoa. Talanei. 16 March 2020. 12 September 2020.
  4. Web site: Samoa keeps an eye on food from China. Talanei. 5 February 2020. 12 September 2020.
  5. Web site: Five Cabinet Minister lose seats after polls . Seia Lavilavi Soloi . Samoa Observer . 13 April 2021 . 29 May 2021.