Aʻeau Peniamina
Samoan politician (1942–2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aʻeau Peniamina Leʻavai (1942 – 7 May 2025) was a Samoan politician and matai. He served as the Speaker of the Samoan Legislative Assembly from 1988 to 1991. He was a member of the Tautua Samoa Party.
Aʻeau Peniamina | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa | |
| In office 1988–1991 | |
| Preceded by | Nonumalo Nanai Leulumoega Sofara |
| Succeeded by | Fatu Vaili Afamasaga |
| Member of the Samoan Parliament for Falealupo | |
| In office 2 March 2001 – 8 April 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Mafasolia Papu Vailupe |
| Succeeded by | Leota Tima Leavai |
| In office 22 February 1985 – 5 April 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Lamusitele Sio |
| Succeeded by | Mafasolia Papu Vailupe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1942 |
| Died | (aged 82) |
| Party | Tautua Samoa Party (2008–2025) |
Other political affiliations | Samoan Democratic United Party (2003–2008) Samoan National Development Party (2001–2003) Human Rights Protection Party (until 2001) |
Life and career
Peniamina was educated at Fiji School of Medicine and the University of London[1] and later worked as a dentist.[2] He was first elected to Parliament as a member of the Human Rights Protection Party in the 1985 general election.[3] He was re-elected in 1988, and served as Speaker of the Assembly from 1988 to 1991, before losing his seat at the 1991 election.[2]
Peniamina was banished from his village after announcing his intention to run as a candidate for the Samoan National Development Party at the 2001 election.[4] He was elected despite this,[5] and was the opposition's candidate for Speaker, but was defeated by 28 votes to 21.[6]
He was re-elected again in 2006 as a candidate for the Samoan Democratic United Party (SDUP).[2] In 2005, Peniamina was accused of racism over remarks he made about Chinese immigrants but later moderated his comments.[7] In November 2006 he was elected deputy leader of the SDUP.[8] Following a split in the SDUP, the party was no longer recognized, and he became an independent MP.[9] He subsequently joined other independents in establishing the Tautua Samoa Party.[10] In December 2007, he denied involvement in an incident in which fellow opposition MP (and former rival for the Falealupo seat) Mafasolia Papu Va'ai was shot and wounded.[11]
Peniamina ran as a Tautua candidate at the 2011 election and was re-elected. He was subsequently elected deputy leader of the party.[12] He was re-elected again at the 2016 election, as one of only three opposition MPs.[13]
He retired at the 2021 election.[14][1] His seat was won by his daughter, Leota Tima Leavai.
Peniamina died on 7 May 2025, at the age of 82.[15]