Thomas Nauer
Thomas Nauer | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1948–1953 | |
| Constituency | A'ana |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1910 |
| Died | 9 February 1953 |
Thomas George Nauer (1910 – 9 February 1953), also known as Tofa Tōmasi, was a Western Samoan politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly between 1948 and 1953.
Biography
Nauer was the son of a German trader and his Samoan wife, a daughter of a Fa'amatai.[1] He was educated at the Marist school,[2] and later became a trader based in Falealili, where he married Pulaloa, who was also half German and the daughter of a Samoan chief.
During World War II Nauer was deported to New Zealand as a result of his German citizenship and interned. Whilst in New Zealand he studied commercial law and accountancy.[2] When he returned to Samoa after the war, he renounced his European status, becoming one of the first European-Samoans to take Samoan status.[3] He took the title Tofa Tōmasi,[3] and lived as a matai at Faleasiu, where he ran a small shop.[1] After being nominated to be a member of the Legislative Assembly for A'ana as part of the 1948 election process, he was initially unable to take his seat due to his German nationality.[4] However, after gaining British citizenship, he was able to become a member of the legislature.[5] He was subsequently re-elected in the 1951 elections,[6] and remained an MLA until his death on 9 February 1953 at the age of 43,[1][7][2] having been widely viewed as a strong candidate to become Samoa's first Prime Minister.[8]
Nauer's son George initially held European status, but also changed to Samoan, inheriting his father's title. He later became a government minister in 1970.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Malama Meleisea (1987) The Making of Modern Samoa: Traditional Authority and Colonial Administration in the History of Western Samoa University of the South Pacific, p176
- ^ a b c Hon. Tofa Tomasi Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1953, p108
- ^ a b Penelope Schoeffel Meleisea (1987) Lagaga: A Short History of Western Samoa University of the South Pacific, p150
- ^ W. Samoa's New Assembly Now Taking Shape: Samoan Members Chosen Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1948, p49
- ^ German-Samoan Elected to New Council Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1948, p15
- ^ Western Samoan Assembly Election Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1951, p9
- ^ Leadership in Western Samoa Te Ao Hou, December 1957
- ^ (1) It's a vital, young cabinet Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1970, p50