Misa Telefoni Retzlaff
Samoan author and former politician
Misa Telefoni Retzlaff
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Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office
19 March 2001 – 20 March 2011 |
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Prime Minister | Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi (1998) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Member of the
Samoan Parliament
for Falelatai & Samatau |
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In office
26 February 1988 – 4 March 2011 |
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Preceded by | Lupematasila Fa'amalaga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Lemi Taefu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born |
Hermann Theodor Retzlaff
( 1952-05-21 ) 21 May 1952 (age 71) Apia , Western Samoa Trust Territory (Now Samoa) |
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Nationality | Samoan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Human Rights Protection Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse | Sarah Pulepule Young | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | University of Auckland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Misa Telefoni Retzlaff (born Hermann Theodor Retzlaff, 21 May 1952) is a Samoan author and retired politician who served as the deputy prime minister of Samoa and deputy leader of the Human Rights Protection Party from 2001 to 2011. A member of the Human Rights Protection Party , Retzlaff was also minister of finance from 2006 to 2011.
Background
Retzlaff is of German-Swedish-Samoan descent, having inherited his German ancestry from his paternal grandfather. [1] 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 was educated at Marist Brothers in Apia [2] and King's College in Auckland , New Zealand . [3] He studied law at the University of Auckland , graduating in 1974. [2] After returning to Samoa, he studied to become a Certified Public Accountant, graduating in 1977, [2] before going on to practice law. [3] He was appointed Attorney-General of Samoa in 1986. [4] His eldest son Lemalu Herman Retzlaff was subsequently appointed and also served as Attorney General of Samoa in 2016.
Political career
In 1988 he resigned his position as Attorney-general to run for election, winning the seat of Falelatai & Samatau. [5] Initially part of the opposition, he joined the government of Tofilau Eti Alesana in 1991 as Minister of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries and Shipping. [3] In 1996 he became Minister of Health, and in 2001, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. [6] [7] In 2006 he was appointed Minister of Tourism, Trade, Labor and Commerce. [8] He retired at the 2011 general election . [9] [10]
Publications
Retzlaff 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. [4] In 2021 he published an autobiography, Tautua – Memoirs of a Public Servant . [2]
References
- ↑ Malama Meleisea (1987). The Making of Modern Samoa: Traditional Authority and Colonial Administration in the Modern History of American Samoa . USP. p. 176. ISBN 982-02-0031-8 .
- 1 2 3 4 Loreta Kelemete (11 June 2021). "Former Deputy Prime Minister's Book Available at SSAB Stores" . Samoa Global News . Retrieved 11 June 2021 .
- 1 2 3 The International Who's Who 2004 . Routledge. 2003. p. 1661.
- 1 2 "Deputy Prime Minister / Sui Palemia" . Government of Samoa. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010 . Retrieved 18 June 2010 .
- ↑ Samoan election results by constituency 1964–2016 Samoa Election Results Database
- ↑ "Misa becomes new Minister of Finance" . Samoa Observer. 20 March 2001. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020.
- ↑ "Cabinet Ministers" . Parliament of Samoa. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012 . Retrieved 18 June 2010 .
- ↑ "Five new faces in new Samoa cabinet" . RNZ. 24 April 2006 . Retrieved 28 February 2021 .
- ↑ "Samoa's deputy prime minister will not seek re-election" . RNZ . 10 February 2011 . Retrieved 28 February 2021 .
- ↑ "Deputy PM Misa bowing out" . Samoa Observer. 12 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012 . Retrieved 13 February 2011 .
Offices and distinctions
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National |