Misa Telefoni Retzlaff
Samoan author and former politician
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Misa Telefoni Retzlaff (born Hermann Theodor Retzlaff, 21 May 1952) is a Samoan author and retired politician who served as the deputy prime minister of Samoa and deputy leader of the Human Rights Protection Party from 2001 to 2011. A member of the Human Rights Protection Party, Retzlaff was also minister of finance from 2006 to 2011.
Misa Telefoni Retzlaff | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 19 March 2001 – 20 March 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Member of the Samoan Parliament for Falelatai & Samatau | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 26 February 1988 – 4 March 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Lupematasila Faʻamalaga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Lemi Taefu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Hermann Theodor Retzlaff 21 May 1952 Apia, Territory of Western Samoa (Now Samoa) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Party | Human Rights Protection Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Sarah Pulepule Young | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Auckland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
Retzlaff is of German-Swedish-Samoan descent, having inherited his German ancestry from his paternal grandfather.[1] His name "Telefoni", is the name that was given by the Samoan community in the early twentieth century, to his grandfather, when he arrived in the German colony, as a public servant of the postal services, to introduce the telephone to the country. He was educated at Marist Brothers in Apia[2] and King's College in Auckland, New Zealand.[3] He studied law at the University of Auckland, graduating in 1974.[2] After returning to Samoa, he studied to become a Certified Public Accountant, graduating in 1977,[2] before going on to practice law.[3] He was appointed Attorney-General of Samoa in 1986.[4] His eldest son Lemalu Herman Retzlaff was subsequently appointed and also served as Attorney General of Samoa in 2016.
Political career
In 1988, he resigned his position as Attorney-general to run for election, winning the seat of Falelatai & Samatau.[5] Initially part of the opposition, he joined the government of Tofilau Eti Alesana in 1991 as Minister of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries and Shipping.[3] In 1996 he became Minister of Health, and in 2001, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.[6][7] In 2006 he was appointed Minister of Tourism, Trade, Labor and Commerce.[8] He retired at the 2011 general election.[9][10]
Publications
Retzlaff has had two books published; "Love and Money", a love story about the richest young bachelor in Auckland New Zealand falling in love with and marrying the young Samoan kitchen help from his exclusive boarding school; and "To Thine Own Self be True", a collection of articles, speeches and poems.[4] In 2021 he published an autobiography, Tautua – Memoirs of a Public Servant.[2]