Matamua Vasati Pulufana

The Honourable
Matamua Vasati Pulufana
Minister of Justice and Courts Administration
In office
24 May 2021 – 16 September 2025[a]
Prime MinisterFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
Preceded byFaʻaolesa Katopau Ainuʻu
Succeeded byFesolai Apulu Tuigamala
Member of the Samoan Parliament
for Faʻasaleleʻaga No. 1
In office
24 May 2021 – 3 June 2025
Preceded bySili Epa Tuioti
Succeeded byLeatigaga Matafai Iiga
Personal details
PartySamoa Uniting Party (since 2025)
Other political
affiliations		Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (until 2025)

Matamua Seumanu Vasati Pulufana is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. She is a member of the Samoa Uniting Party (SUP).

Pulufana is the wife of former MP Tiata Sili Pulufana and is a former educator.[1] She was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in the 2021 Samoan general election as a Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) candidate,[2][3] defeating Finance Minister Sili Epa Tuioti.[4] On 24 May 2021 she was appointed Minister of Justice and Courts Administration in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.[5] The appointment was disputed by the caretaker government. On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing-in ceremony was constitutional and binding, and that FAST had been the government since 24 May.[6][7]

In December 2021 Pulufana suspended the appointment process for the Deputy President of the Land and Titles Court of Samoa on the grounds that a "drafting error" in the Land and Titles Bill meant that there were no legal provisions for appointments to the court.[8] Attorney-General Suʻa Hellene Wallwork subsequently issued a formal opinion that the lack of appointment provisions meant that no appointments could be made until further legislation had been passed,[9] and that the Komisi o Faʻamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa, intended to be an appointments and supervisory body for the court, was legally powerless.[10] On this basis, Pulufana ordered the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration not to progress the appointments in any way. Despite this, on 17 December 2021 Fepuleaʻi purported to swear in Faimalomatumua and two other judges without warrants of appointment from the O le Ao o le Malo, claiming the appointments were "made by God".[11]

Prime Minister Mataʻafa called a snap election following the government's budget defeat in parliament on 27 May 2025.[12] Following the dissolution of parliament,[13] Pulufana, Mata‘afa and the rest of cabinet confirmed their resignations from FAST and established the SUP.[14]

During the 2025 election, Pulufana lost her seat to FAST's Leatigaga Matafai Iiga.[15] Pulufana's tenure as justice minister concluded on 16 September, and she was succeeded by Fesolai Apulu Tuigamala.[16]

Notes

  1. ^ Disputed: 24 May 2021 – 23 July 2021

References

  1. ^ Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (20 November 2020). "Matamua follows late husband's footsteps". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. ^ "FAST Candidates Displace 4 Ministers and Deputy Speaker". Samoa Global News. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  3. ^ "FAST Ushers In More New MPs Than HRPP". Newsline Samoa. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  4. ^ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (10 April 2021). "Sili will challenge defeat in court". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  5. ^ Marieta H Ilalio (25 May 2021). "Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  6. ^ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  7. ^ "First FAST Cabinet Down to Work – When the Impossible Happens". Talamua Online. 29 July 2021. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  8. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (6 December 2021). "Justice Minister halts L.T.C. Deputy President appointment". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  9. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (14 December 2021). "A.G. advice against L.T.C. appointment". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  10. ^ Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (15 December 2021). "L.T.C. Commission powerless: A.G." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  11. ^ Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (17 December 2021). ""Appointments made by God": L.T.C. President". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  12. ^ Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai (10 June 2025). "Samoa head of state issues official election writ". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Speaker continues in office after Parliament dissolves without fanfare". Talamua Online. Apia. 3 June 2025. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Fiame & 15 confirm resignation and want share of FAST Funds". Talamua Online. Apia. 5 June 2025. Archived from the original on 5 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Ten caretaker ministers lose seats". Samoa Observer. 30 August 2025. Archived from the original on 4 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Laaulialemalietoa announces his first Cabinet as Samoa's Prime Minister". Samoa Global News. 16 September 2025. Archived from the original on 16 September 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
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