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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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b c d Loreta Kelemete (11 June 2021). "Former Deputy Prime Minister's Book Available at SSAB Stores". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c The International Who's Who 2004. Routledge. 2003. p. 1661.
  4. ^ a b "Deputy Prime Minister / Sui Palemia". Government of Samoa. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  5. ^ Samoan election results by constituency 1964–2016 Samoa Election Results Database
  6. ^ "Misa becomes new Minister of Finance". Samoa Observer. 20 March 2001. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Cabinet Ministers". Parliament of Samoa. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  8. ^ "Five new faces in new Samoa cabinet". RNZ. 24 April 2006. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Samoa's deputy prime minister will not seek re-election". RNZ. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Deputy PM Misa bowing out". Samoa Observer. 12 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misa_Telefoni_Retzlaff