AUT was honoured to host Samoa’s Prime Minister on her first official visit to Aotearoa New Zealand since being elected Prime Minister of Samoa in 2021. The Honourable Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa is revered across the Pacific region for her work in education, gender equality and conservation.
On Monday 13 June 2022, Fiamē joined AUT’s Assistant Vice-Chancellor Pacific Advancement and South Campus, Walter Fraser, to share her insight into Samoa, leadership, the Pacific and the world.
Having served as Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa was elected Samoa’s Prime Minister in 2021. Fiamē earned wide-spread respect for her calm handling of Samoa’s prolonged election crisis to become the nation’s first female Prime Minister.
With her inspirational leadership, she carries the hope for a better future of Samoans across the world. Fiamē was listed on BBC’s 100 most inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2021.