Maiava Iulai Toma is a

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...

n diplomat and civil servant. He served as Samoa's

Ombudsman An ombudsman (, also ,), ombud, ombuds, ombudswoman, ombudsperson or public advocate is an official who is usually appointed by the government or by parliament (usually with a significant degree of independence) to investigate complaints and at ...

from 1994 — 2020. Maiava was born in Samoa and educated in

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. While later serving as Ombudsman he completed a Bachelor of Laws at the

University of the South Pacific The University of the South Pacific (USP) is a public university, public research university with locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. Established in 1968, the university is organised as an intergovernmental organisation and ...

Civil servant and diplomat

He worked as a civil servant, serving as Secretary to the Samoan Government, chief executive of the Department of Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs & Cabinet, and Commissioner to the

South Pacific Commission The Pacific Community (PC), formerly the South Pacific Commission (SPC), is an international development organisation governed by 27 members, including 22 Pacific island countries and territories. The organisation's headquarters are in Nouméa, ...

. In January 1978 he was appointed ambassador to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, permanent representative to the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

, and High Commissioner to

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. He was recalled from those positions in 1982 by the new government of Vaʻai Kolone, sent back when

Tofilau Eti Alesana Tofilau Eti Alesana, AC, born Aualamalefalelima Alesana (4 June 1924 – 19 March 1999) was a Samoan politician who served as the fifth prime minister of Samoa from 1982 to 1985, and again from 1988 until his resignation in 1998. Biography ...

took power later that year, and finally recalled in January 1983 to return to his old role as secretary to the government.

Ombudsman

In 1994 Maiava was appointed Ombudsman. Shortly after his appointment he was asked by the government to investigate auditor-general Sua Rimoni Ah Chong's findings of corruption by government ministers. His report cleared the ministers, and was used by the government as justification to suspend Ah Chong. In 1998 he chaired a commission of inquiry into the leaking of Prime Minister

's police record, in which he ordered the media not to report on proceedings. In 2000 he chaired the Electoral Reform Commission. His appointment to the position caused another member,

Savea Sano Malifa Savea Sano Malifa '' OM'' (also known as Fata Sano Malifa) is a Samoan poet, journalist, newspaper editor, and publisher. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of the ''Samoa Observer'', the main newspaper in Samoa. He is the author of the novel ' ...

, to resign. In 2007 an inquiry by Maiava into sexual harassment by the chief executive of the Samoa Tourism authority saw the chief executive fired. In 2008 he chaired a commission of inquiry into the smuggling of weapons from

American Samoa American Samoa ( sm, Amerika Sāmoa, ; also ' or ') is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the island country of Samoa. Its location is centered on . It is east of the International ...

aboard the police patrol boat '' Nafanua''. The inquiry found police commissioner Papalii Lorenese Neru and the ''Nafanuas captain in breach of duty and recommended a criminal investigation, but the latter recommendation was ignored by the government. In 2013 he led an inquiry into mismanagement and abuse of power at

Tafaigata prison Tafa'igata is a village in the central region of Upolu island in Samoa. The village population is 998. Tafa'igata is part of Faleata West Electoral Constituency (''Faipule District'') which forms part of the larger political district of Tuamasaga. ...

which led to police commissioner Lilomaiava Fou Taioalo being fired. In 2016 he led a major inquiry into domestic violence in Samoa. The inquiry reported back in 2018, recommending the creation of a Family Violence Prevention Office. In 2018 he opposed proposals by the Samoan government to reinstate corporal punishment in schools. In 2020 he opposed the government's

Land and Titles Bill The Land and Titles Bill is one of three bills passed by the Legislative Assembly of Samoa to reform the legal framework around the Land and Titles Court of Samoa and Samoan customary law. The bills are viewed by some as undermining human rights a ...

. He retired in 2020 and was replaced by

Luamanuvao Katalaina Sapolu Luamanuvao Katalaina Sapolu (born 6 August 1958) was Samoa's Ombudsman from 2021 to 2023. She is the first woman ever appointed to that role. She is the sister of former Chief Justice of Samoa Patu Tiava'asu'e Falefatu Sapolu, and is married to ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toma, Maiava Iulai Living people Samoan civil servants Samoan diplomats Samoan lawyers Permanent Representatives of Samoa to the United Nations High Commissioners of Samoa to Canada University of the South Pacific alumni Year of birth missing (living people)