Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV explained

Order1:2nd
Office1:Prime Minister of Western Samoa
1Namedata1:Malietoa Tanumafili II
Predecessor2:Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II
Successor2:Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II
Term2:25 February 1970 – 20 March 1973
Predecessor1:Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II
Successor1:Tupuola Efi
1Namedata2:Malietoa Tanumafili II
Term1:21 May 1975 – 24 March 1976
Acting
Office3:Member of the Council of Deputies
Term3:1968–1970, 1976–1983
Office4:Minister of Justice
Term4:1973–1975
Primeminister4:Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II
Predecessor4:Amoa Tausilia
Successor4:Lilomaiava Niko
Office5:Member of the Legislative Assembly
Term5:1970–1976
Constituency5:Anoamaa East
Predecessor5:Leutele Poutoa
Birth Date:8 May 1922
Death Place:Matautu, Western Samoa
Spouse:Rita Lolani
Children:4
Nationality:Samoan
Alma Mater:Fiji School of Medicine
Party:Independent
Parents:Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III, Alaisalatemaota

Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV (8 May 1922 – 9 July 1983)[1] was the second prime minister of Samoa from 25 February 1970 to 20 March 1973 and again from 21 May 1975 to 24 March 1976.[2] He held the title of Tupua Tamasese, one of the four main chiefly titles of Samoa (the Tama-a-Aiga) from 1965 until his death in 1983.

Biography

Lealofi was born in Apia in May 1922, the eldest son of Mau movement leader Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III, who was killed by New Zealand Police in 1929.[3] After studying at the Marist Brothers school and Malifa high school, he attended the Fiji School of Medicine between 1940 and 1945, qualifying as a medical practitioner.[3] He then worked as a doctor for the Health Department.[3] In 1965 he became Tupua Tamasese following the death of his uncle Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole. This entitled him to become a member of the Council of Deputies, to which he was elected in 1968.[3]

In 1970 he resigned from the Council of Deputies to contest elections to the Legislative Assembly, and was elected in the Anoamaa East constituency. Following the elections, he was elected Prime Minister, defeating incumbent Fiame Mata'afa in the third round of voting.[4] However, following the 1973 elections he was eliminated in the first round of voting for Prime Minister, and was succeeded by Mata'afa. Mata'afa subsequently appointed him as Minister of Justice.

Mata'afa died in 1975 and Lealofi was appointed by then Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II, as his replacement. Following the 1976 elections he was defeated in the vote for Prime Minister by his cousin, Tupuola Efi. He subsequently resigned from the Legislative Assembly and was elected to the Council of Deputies again.[5]

Lealofi died in Matautu on Upolu Island in July 1983 at the age of 61.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV.
  2. Book: The Pacific Islands: An Encyclopedia . Brij V. Lal . Kate Fortune . 286 . 2016-12-15. 9780824822651 . 2000 .
  3. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-339792807/view?partId=nla.obj-339846446#page/n64/mode/1up Tupua Tamases Lealofi IV
  4. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-331803318/view?partId=nla.obj-331958886#page/n51/mode/1up (1) It's a vital, young cabinet
  5. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-332540656/view?partId=nla.obj-332567114#page/n28/mode/1up Tupuola Efi dispels a myth and upsets a Samoan tradition