Talofa lava,
My name is Tyrone Malaesaili Laurenson. I was bestowed with the title “Moananu” from my late father’s village of Lufilufi.
I am a New Zealand-born Samoan. My parents migrated to New Zealand from Samoa in the 1940’s. My late father hails from the villages of Lufilufi and Lepea, and my late mother is from the village of Vaimoso. I am a member of the Pacific Islanders’ Presbyterian Church in Newton, Auckland. I have three children and one grand-child. My interests are family and sports generally, with a particular interest in sports being rugby league and rugby union.
I began my tertiary studies at Otago University, and I eventually graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Management Studies & Employment Relations.
I served in the New Zealand Police for 25 years (1973-1998). I attained the rank of Inspector – being the first person of Samoan descent to do so. I was also the recipient of the 1990 New Zealand Commemoration Medal (for services to the pacific island community) and the Erebus Special Medal (for work during the 1979 Air New Zealand Mt Erebus disaster).
My service in the New Zealand Police provided me with operational, administrative and management experiences for the roles in which I have served in Samoa. I have been employed variously as the:
- Registrar: National University of Samoa (1998-2003);
- Administration Manager:AusAID funded Samoa Police & Prisons Service Institutional Strengthening Project SPS-ISP (2004-2006);
- Assistant Vice Chancellor: Oceania University of Medicine Samoa Campus (2009-2011); and
- In-Country Programme Manager for the High Tech Youth Network project funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2017-2019);
Employment in these sectors in Samoa has given me a tremendous insight into the development of Samoa.
As the General Manager for WE Limited based in Samoa I am blessed to be working with young graduates from the National University of Samoa. Their employment with WE Limited not only contributes to the social, economic development of Samoa. It also provides them with meaningful employment, and enables them to contribute to their families, extended families, village and church communities without leaving Samoa – a brain gain vis-a-via a brain drain. It is a pleasure to be working with a youthful, enthusiastic and committed team.
