Samoan is dean of diplomatic corps

Press, 5 September 1989, Page 33

Samoan is dean of diplomatic corps

PA Wellington Western Samoa’s High Commissioner to New’ Zealand Lupematasila Aumua loane, and the new dean of the Diplomatic Corps, is a cousin of the writer, Albert Wendt. The High Commissioner was also known as John Wendt before he was awarded the chiefly titles of Lupematasila and Aumua.

“I may try some writing myself when I retire,” he said. He is the senior diplomat in Wellington, after the departure for Egypt during the week-end of the Vatican representa-

tive, Archbishop Antonio Magnoni. Appointed in February, 1984, he is the third high commissioner since 1976, when Western Samoa’s diplomatic mission was established here. Western Samoa has a consulate in Auckland and two other diplomatic missions in Brussels and New York. Almost as many

Samoans lived abroad as on their home islands in Western and American Samoa, Lupematasila Aumua loane said. He estimated there would be up to 100,000 Samoans or people of

Samoan origin living in New Zealand, and another 100,000 in the United States. Western Samoa’s Prime Minister, Tofilau Eti Alesana is having talks with the Government about immigration issues this week.

The High Commissioner was governor for Western Samoa in the Asian Development Bank and in the International Monetary Fund and International Development Agency of the World Bank Group.

His wife, Vida, is a senior Treasury official on leave.