Matatumua Maimoana (1935–2012), also known as Matatumua Maimoaga Vermeulen, was a ''
matai'',
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...
,
Nurse
Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health c ...
and
Environmentalist
An environmentalist is a person who is concerned with and/or advocates for the protection of the environment. An environmentalist can be considered a supporter of the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that se ...
of
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 and Apolima); ...
. Her chief title, Matatumua, was an orator's title from the village of
Faleasiu
Faleasi'u is one of the largest village settlements on the island of Upolu in Samoa. It is located on the northwestern coast of the island and has a population of 4177.
Faleasi'u is part of A'ana Alofi 1 Electoral Constituency (''Faipule District' ...
. She was a former member of parliament in Samoa and the founder of the
Samoa All People's Party
The Samoa All People's Party (SAPP) was a political party in Samoa. It was formed on 24 March 1996, by former Human Rights Protection Party MP Matatumua Maimoaga
Matatumua Maimoana (1935–2012), also known as Matatumua Maimoaga Vermeulen, was a ...
(SAPP),
becoming the first woman to lead a political party in the country. SAPP allowed people as young as 16, regardless of gender or whether they were ''matai'' to be officers in the organisation which included village branches.
She was a founding member of the
Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), which has dominated Samoan politics in the last two decades.
Matatumua was a former Superintendent of Nursing who was instrumental in the founding and development of the
Samoa School of Nursing. She was an active member of the
Samoa Public Service Association
The Samoa Public Service Association (PSA; sm, Faalapotopotoga Tagata Faigaluega Malo Samoa) is a trade union in Samoa. Founded in 1969 as a branch of the New Zealand Public Service Association, and officially registered in 1979, the union's thre ...
(PSA) during the 1981 PSA General Strike which brought down the
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is ...
of
Tupuola Efi. She was involved in environmental issues and is currently a board member of
Matuaileo'o Environmental Trust (METI).
Family
Matatumua was the daughter of
Le Mamea Matatumua Ata and was married to Dr.
Walter Vermeulen. Her older sister
Laulu Fetauimalemau Mata'afa
The music of Finland can be roughly divided into categories of folk music, classical and contemporary art music, and contemporary popular music.
The folk music of Finland belongs to a broader musical tradition, that has been common amongst B ...
was also a chief and a politician who was the wife of paramount chief
Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu’u II, the first
Prime Minister of Samoa. Another sister Eni was also a founding member of HRPP and the wife of politician
Aiono Nonumalo Sofara who left HRPP in 1993 and subsequently formed the
Samoa Democratic Party.
[
]
Politics
Matatumua founded the Samoa All People's Party (SAPP) on 24 March 1996.[ Prior to leading the new political party, she had been a founding member of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), first entering parliament as one of the members for the constituency of Aana Number 1 (comprising the villages of ]Faleasiu
Faleasi'u is one of the largest village settlements on the island of Upolu in Samoa. It is located on the northwestern coast of the island and has a population of 4177.
Faleasi'u is part of A'ana Alofi 1 Electoral Constituency (''Faipule District' ...
and Fasito'o) after the 1982 election. However, later she became known for being a critic of the HRPP government under Tofilau Eti Alesana,[
]
often voting against her party and opposing its leader in caucus. Among her criticisms was the extension of the parliamentary term from 3 years to 5 years and the fact that the extension took effect during that sitting of parliament rather than after the subsequent general election. Another major area of contention was the expansion of Cabinet from eight to thirteen members, and the inclusion of under secretaries (deputy ministers), which was seen as depleting the backbench.
In 1990 she introduced a motion for the introduction of universal suffrage
Universal suffrage (also called universal franchise, general suffrage, and common suffrage of the common man) gives the right to vote to all adult citizens, regardless of wealth, income, gender, social status, race, ethnicity, or political stan ...
while in parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
but was not supported by her own party. After the defeat of the motion, both the HRPP and the coalition under Tupuola Efi and Vaai Kolone promised to introduce universal suffrage if they gained power in the following election. When the HRPP retained power following that election, in which Matatumua lost her seat, the HRPP introduced the bill and Tofilau Eti Alesana claimed credit for the introduction of universal suffrage.
As Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, she often questioned and criticized the government's fiscal policies and practices as well what she saw as its deliberate lack of accountability to parliament. Eventually she resigned from the HRPP and founded SAPP. which has never attained any seats in parliament.
She served as Member of Parliament of the electoral constituency of Aana No.1 from 1982 to 1984, during which she was a member of the Bills Committee, and from 1991 to 1995, during which she was deputy chair of the Public Accounts Committee.
See also
* Fa'amatai, chiefly system of Samoa
* Le Mamea Matatumua Ata, father
* Walter Vermeulen, husband
*Laulu Fetauimalemau Mata'afa
The music of Finland can be roughly divided into categories of folk music, classical and contemporary art music, and contemporary popular music.
The folk music of Finland belongs to a broader musical tradition, that has been common amongst B ...
, sister
* Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, niece
* Hinauri Petana, niece (High Commissioner to Australia)
* Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II, brother-in-law
* Nonumalo Sofara, brother-in-law
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maimoana, Matatumua
Samoan chiefs
Maimoaga, Matatumua
1935 births
2012 deaths
Samoan women in politics
Human Rights Protection Party politicians
20th-century women politicians