Le Mamea Matatumua Ata OBE was one of the framers of the Constitution of Samoa.[1] He held senior positions under the New Zealand Trusteeship of Samoa and in the Independent State of Samoa.
He held the high chief (matai) title Le Mamea from Matautu, Lefaga and the orator title Matatumua from Faleasi'u.
For his work, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1960 Queen's Birthday Honours.[2]
He also played the role of Tonga in Return to Paradise (1953 film) a South Seas drama film starring Gary Cooper released by United Artists in 1953. Return to Paradise was filmed on location in Matautu, Lefaga.
Family
Le Mamea's eldest daughter, Laulu Fetauimalemau Mata'afa was a teacher, member of parliament and ambassador who was married to the paramount chief Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu’u II, the first Prime Minister of Samoa. Another daughter Matatumua Maimoana was the first Samoan Superintendent of Nursing, she also became a member of parliament. Both sisters and their brother-in-law Nonumalo Sofara were founding members of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP).
One of his granddaughters, Fiame Naomi Mataafa is a former Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa while another, Hinauri Petana was Financial Secretary and is the Samoan High Commissioner to Australia.
References
- ^ THE CONSTITUTION OF THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF SAMOA Archived 2004-09-23 at Archive.today at www.parliament.gov.ws
- ^ "No. 42053". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 11 June 1960. p. 4018.