Misa Telefoni Retzlaff

Misa Telefoni Retzlaff (born Hermann Theodor Retzlaff, 21 May 1952) is a former Samoan Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance (2001-2011), and deputy leader of the Human Rights Protection Party.

Misa Telefoni Ratzlaff
Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa
In office
19 March 2001 – 20 March 2011
Prime MinisterTuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
Preceded byTuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi (1998)
Succeeded byFonotoe Pierre Lauofo
Minister of Finance
In office
20 March 2001 – 19 March 2006
Prime MinisterTuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
Preceded byTuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
Succeeded byNiko Lee Hang
Member of the Samoan Parliament
for Falelatai and Samatau
In office
26 February 1988 – 4 March 2011
Preceded byLupematasila Fa'amalaga
Succeeded byLemi Taefu
Personal details
Born
Hermann Theodor Retzlaff

(1952-05-21) 21 May 1952
Apia, Western Samoa Trust Territory (Now Samoa)
NationalitySamoan
Political partyHuman Rights Protection Party
Spouse(s)Sarah Pulepule Young
Alma materUniversity of Auckland

Retzlaff was educated at King's College in Auckland, New Zealand.[1] He studied law at the University of Auckland before going on to practice law in Samoa.[1] He was appointed Attorney-General of Samoa in 1986.[2]

In 1988 he resigned his position as Attorney-general to run for election, winning the seat of Falelatai & Samatau.[3] Initially part of the opposition, he joined the government of Tofilau Eti Alesana in 1991 as Minister of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries and Shipping.[1] In 1996 he became Minister of Health, and in 2001, Deputy Prime Minister. In addition to that role, he held the portfolios of Finance, Commerce, Industry and Labour.[4][5]

He stated he was not be standing to retain the seat he has held for 22 years in the 2011 general election.[6]

Retzlaff is of German-Swedish-Samoan descent, having inherited his German ancestry from his paternal grandfather.[7] 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 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.[2]

In February 2011 Telefoni confirmed he was retiring from politics at the 2011 election.[8] See a short tribute to Misa Telefoni published in the Samoa Observer 9 March 2011, by his son Lemalu Hermann Paul Retzlaff. "Tribute to Misa Telefoni" - http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31878:tribute-to-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

References
  1. The International Who's Who 2004. Routledge. 2003. p. 1661.
  2. "Deputy Prime Minister / Sui Palemia". Government of Samoa. Archived from the original on 2010-06-28. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  3. Samoan election results by constituency 1964–2016 Samoa Election Results Database
  4. "Misa becomes new Minister of Finance". Samoa Observer.
  5. "Cabinet Ministers". Parliament of Samoa. Archived from the original on 2012-08-05. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  6. "Samoa's deputy prime minister will not seek re-election". Radio New Zealand International. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  7. Malama Meleisea (1987). The Making of Modern Samoa: Traditional Authority and Colonial Administration in the Modern History of American Samoa. USP. p. 176. ISBN 982-02-0031-8.
  8. "Deputy PM Misa bowing out". Samoa Observer. 2011-02-12. Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2011-02-13.


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