The Samoan Order of Merit is an order recognizing distinguished service in

science Science is a systematic endeavor that Scientific method, builds and organizes knowledge in the form of Testability, testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earli ...

art Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas. There is no generally agreed definition of wha ...

literature Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include ...

, or

religion Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...

. Per the Honours and Awards Act 1999, admission into the organization is granted by the

O le Ao o le Malo The ''O le Ao o le Malo'' ( Samoan for "Head of State") is the head of state of Samoa. The position is described in Part III of the 1960 Samoan constitution. At the time the constitution was adopted, it was anticipated that future heads of st ...

, presently Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, and is limited to 15 living individuals from

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); ...

, plus an unspecified number of foreigners. All members receive the ability to use the post-nominal letters ''OM'' and a medallion to wear, and in the Samoan order of precedence fall between Companions and Officers of the Order of Samoa.

Current members

* Albert Wendt (appointed 1994) * Seiuli Paul Wallwork (appointed 2014) * Savea Sano Malifa (appointed 2014) * Muliagatele Brian Pala Lima (appointed 2014) * Adimaimalaga Tafuna’i (appointed 2014) * Joseph Parker (appointed 2017)

Past members

* Mase Toia Alama (appointed 2017) * Aiono Fanaafi Le Tagaloa (appointed 2005) * Tufuga Samuelu Atoa (appointed 1995) * Papali’i John Ryan (appointed 1994)

Honorary members (non-citizens)

* Papali’i Chellaraj Satvadas Benjamin (appointed 2014) * Taffy Gould (appointed 2014) * Tilafaiga Rex Maughan (appointed 2014) * Alistair Leighton Hutchinson (appointed 2014) * Walter Vermeulen (appointed 2014)

References

Government of Samoa Orders, decorations, and medals of Samoa Orders of merit {{Samoa-stub