Thomas Nauer

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]