Alaiasa Sepulona Moananu

Alai'asa Moefa'auouo Tapuai Sepulona Moananu (born c. 1961)[1] is a Samoan politician. He is a member of the Opposition Human Rights Protection Party and the current member for the Anoama'a No.1 constituency. Moananu is also the Whip for the HRPP.

Alaiasa Sepulona Moananu
Alaiasa Sepulona Moananu
Member of the Samoa Parliament
for Anoamaa No. 1
Assumed office
4 March 2016
Preceded byAlo Fulifuli Taveuveu
Member of the Samoa Parliament
for Salega
In office
31 March 2006 – 4 March 2011
Succeeded byNone (Constituency split)
Personal details
Political partyHuman Rights Protection Party

Personal life

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Sepulona Moananu was born and raised in the village of Falefa to parents Salale Moananu Salale and Eseta Moananu. He is an accountant, a business owner, a farmer, and comes from a family of politicians and leaders. He holds the matai titles of "Tapuai" from Sagone in Savaii, "Moefa'auouo" from the village of Lufilufi and "Alai'asa" from Falefa. His father the late Salale Moananu was elected as MP for Anoama'a in the 1991 election, defeating former Prime Minister Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi before losing the seat in a subsequent case. Alai'asa has 7 siblings (Siaosi, Sinatala, Pola Salale, Makerita Litia, Okesene Lupe, Tapa, and Saulaulu Utulei) and is a father to 7 children (Lapi, Grace, Esther, Timothy Salale, Faith, Christian, and Lydia) and husband to Fugalelea Moananu.[1]

Political career

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He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in the seat of Salega in the 2006 election under the title of Tapuai.[1][2] He lost his seat at the 2011 election, but was re-elected as the Member for Anoamaa No. 1 in the 2016 election and appointed Government Whip[1] and Associate Minister of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC).[3] In January 2017 during a debate over a constitutional amendment to declare Samoa a Christian nation, Moananu urged Samoa to back the state of Israel.[4]

He was re-elected in the 2021 election.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Lanuola Tusani Tupufia (9 March 2016). "Alaiasa returns to Parliament". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  2. ^ "INDEPENDENT STATE OF SAMOA PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 31 MARCH 2006". Adam Carr election archive. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Samoa's former deputy PM left out". RNZ. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  4. ^ Sarafina Sanerivi (31 January 2017). "Samoa urged to back Israel". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Over 60% Of Sitting MPs Not Re-Elected". Newsline Samoa. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  6. ^ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (10 April 2021). "F.A.S.T. surprises H.R.P.P. with tie". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 17 May 2021.