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Aʻeau Peniamina Leʻavai (born 1942) is a Samoan politician and matai. He served as the Speaker of the Samoan Legislative Assembly from 1988 to 1991. He is a member of the Tautua Samoa Party.

Peniamina was educated at Fiji School of Medicine and the University of London and later worked as a dentist. He was first elected to Parliament as a member of the Human Rights Protection Party in the 1985 general election. He was re-elected in 1988, and served as Speaker of the Assembly from 1988 to 1991, before losing his seat at the 1991 election.

Peniamina was banished from his village after announcing his intention to run as a candidate for the Samoan National Development Party at the 2001 election. He was elected despite this, and was the opposition's candidate for Speaker, but was defeated by 28 votes to 21.

He was re-elected again in 2006 as a candidate for the Samoan Democratic United Party (SDUP). In 2005, Peniamina was accused of racism over remarks he made about Chinese immigrants but later moderated his comments. In November 2006 he was elected deputy leader of the SDUP. Following a split in the SDUP, the party was no longer recognized, and he became an independent MP. He subsequently joined other independents in establishing the Tautua Samoa Party. In December 2007 he denied involvement in an incident in which fellow opposition MP (and former rival for the Falealupo seat) Mafasolia Papu Va'ai was shot and wounded.

Peniamina ran as a Tautua candidate at the 2011 election and was re-elected. He was subsequently elected deputy leader of the party. He was re-elected again at the 2016 election, as one of only three opposition MPs.

He retired at the 2021 election. His seat was won by his daughter, Leota Tima Leavai.

References

1. ^ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (31 December 2020). "PEOPLE OF 2020: Aeau Dr. Peniamina Leavai". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
2. ^ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (31 January 2021). "Longest-serving opposition M.P., Aeau Dr. Peniamina Leavai, retires". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
3. ^ "A'eau Peniamina". Legislative Assembly of Samoa. Archived from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
4. "SAMOA CHIEF BANNED FROM VILLAGE FOR WANTING TO RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE". Pacific Islands Report. 24 January 2001. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
5. "SAMOA GOVERNMENT LOSES SOME SEATS, NOW NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN". Pacific Islands Report. 5 March 2001. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
6. "SAMOA'S RULING PARTY RETURNING TO POWER". Pacific Islands Report. 15 March 2001. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
7. "Samoa PM accused of racism over anti-Chinese remark". RNZ. 22 January 2005. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
8. "Samoa's SDUP elects new deputy leader". RNZ. 6 November 2006. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
9. "Deputy leader of Samoa opposition party resigns". RNZ. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
10. Alan Ah Mu (17 December 2008). "Tautua Samoa officially launched". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
11. "Samoan MP denies involvement in shooting of another politician". RNZ. 5 December 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
12. "Tautua Samoa caucus elect new leaders". RNZ. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
13. "Tautua Samoa party finally talks after disastrous poll results". RNZ. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
14. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (4 September 2020). "New candidate eyes the seat of Falealupo". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

• 1942 births
• Living people
• Members of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa
• Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa
• People from Vaisigano
• Samoan chiefs
• Samoan Democratic United Party politicians
• Tautua Samoa Party politicians
• Alumni of the University of London
• Fiji School of Medicine alumni