Obituaries — His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II 
Obituaries — His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II 
[Volume:639;Page:9171] 
Obituaries 
His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Deputy Prime Minister) 
 on behalf of the 
 Prime Minister 
: I move  
That this House notes with sadness the death of His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili 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 
to continuing good relations with Samoa. 
His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili 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 Tupua Tamasese Mea’ola. On the death of Tupua Tamasese in 1963 Malietoa Tanumafili 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. Malietoa Tanumafili 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 ua malie toa! E ua malie tau!  
JOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition) 
: 
 The National Party wholeheartedly supports this resolution and pays tribute to His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II the father of Samoa. Malietoa Tanumafili 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 Maori Queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu. 
But Malietoa Tanumafili 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) 
: 
 The death of His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili 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 Malietoa Tanumafili’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 Malietoa Tanumafili II. 
KEITH LOCKE (Green) 
: 
 The Green Party fully endorses the comments made by Dr Cullen Mr Key and Mr Peters in mourning the death of His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili 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—Maori Party) 
: 
 Kai te Rangatira kaiwhiriwhiri o to tatou Whare nei huri noa ki nga kaiarahi o nga pati me nga mema katoa o te Whare Paremata tena koutou katoa. 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
To you Madam Speaker adjudicator of this House of ours and party leaders and all members of Parliament greetings to you all 
.] 
Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili was born in 1913 and at the young age of 26 he inherited the title of Malietoa on the death of his father. In 1962 when Samoa gained its independence he was made joint head of State along with Tupua Tamasese Mea’ole. Unfortunately Tamasese died the following year but from that time right until this week Malietoa Tanumafili remained head of State or O le Ao o le Malo—king—of Samoa. It has already been said that he was long serving. In fact he was the longest-serving monarch ever. He was ahead of Queen Elizabeth II and the King of Thailand in the length of time spent as head of State. Therefore it is fitting that we here in Aotearoa should join the people of Samoa and the Samoans in New Zealand in mourning this king. He was educated in New Zealand at St Stephen’s College and Wesley College. 
Na reira kai te ariki takoto i te waka whakamutunga. Nau te karanga akuanei ka tae atu matou ki a koe. Kai te ariki kai te tipua kai te rangatira takoto i te waka whakamutunga kia uhia nga korero kai runga i a koe. Ka tae atu matou ki te mau atu ki a koe nga taonga mo koutou te mate ara ko nga roimata me nga hupe kia ringihia kai runga i a koe Na reira i te mutunga ake haere i to waka ki o tipuna matua na ki to papa a ki a ratou. Haere ki te kapunipunitanga o nga wairua ki te pae o mahara okioki pai mai. Kai te rangatira kai te ariki haere haere haere atu ra. 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
And so the monarch lie there in the vessel of finality. Yours is the call and in time we will come to you. Oh monarch celestial being and chief of all chiefs rest there in the vessel of finality to be enveloped by tributes to you. We will come and bring with us treasures for you the departed in the form of tears and mucus to shed upon you. And so at the end of it all depart in your vessel to your ancestors your father and others. Go to the gathering place of the spirits to the horizon of memories; rest there well. So to the chief of all chiefs the monarch depart depart farewell 
.] 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 United Future joins with other members in expressing our condolences to the family and people of Samoa on the death of His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili 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) 
: 
 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 Malietoa Tanumafili 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) 
: 
 I lau Afioga le Fonofetalai Afio sui o tagata mauli o tagata fenua o Aotearoa. I le mamalu male päia o le Maota nei. Oute tautala atu ma le agaga faanoanoa aua le “tuu malo” pe ole valaau päia a le Atua i le Ao mamalu ole Malo o Samoa lona afioga mamalu ile tapaau Faasisina e afio i lona nofoa vaevaeloloa i lona tala na atoatoa ma lona fala folaloa e faalogo iai Samoa i le susuga i le Malietoa Tanumafili 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 Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II. 
] 
It is indeed a sad time for all Samoans to hear of the passing of His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili 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 Susuga Malietoa’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. 
“Ua pauu toa ua maimau ai aupega o le taua.” Ia pau se toa ae tulai mai se toa aua Samoa ma lona malo. 
Ia manuia le malagi i le susuga i le Malietoa Tanumafili le lua. Faatofa ma ia Soifua i lau Afioga i le Tapaau Faasisina le tama ole tätou Atunuu - Soifua. 
[ 
“Great warriors have fallen effective weapons of war are wasted.” 
A great warrior has fallen another great warrior needs to stand for Samoa and its Government. 
All the best for the journey of Malietoa Tanumafili II. Goodbye and farewell to Tapaau Faasisina the father of the Samoan nation—farewell. 
] 
Motion agreed to. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I ask all members to stand and observe a moment’s silence. 
Honourable members stood as a mark of respect.