Mauʻu Siaosi Puʻepuʻemai

Mauʻu Siaosi Puʻepuʻemai
Minister of Communications and Information Technology
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 January 2025
Prime Minister	Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
Preceded by	Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo
Member of the Samoan Parliament for Vaʻa-o-Fonoti
Incumbent
Assumed office 24 October 2023
Preceded by	Vacant
In office 9 April 2021 – 19 July 2023
Preceded by	Tialavea Tionisio Hunt
Succeeded by	Vacant
Personal details
Political party	Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (since 2023) Independent (2022–2023) Human Rights Protection Party (until 2022)

Mauʻu Siaosi Puʻepuʻemai (born ca. 1972)[1] is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party.

Mauʻu was raised in Fagaloa before moving to American Samoa.[1] After returning to Samoa in the 1990s he opened a pizza shop, car rental business, and kava farm.[1][2] He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in the April 2021 Samoan general election, defeating four other candidates to win the seat of Vaʻa o Fonoti.[1]

Maʻu resigned from the HRPP on 25 November 2022 to become an independent, citing a request to do so by his constituents.[3] Following a court challenge, their seats were declared vacant on 19 July 2023.[4] He was subsequently endorsed as a FAST candidate in the resulting by-election.[5] Mauʻu won with a commanding majority. His win, along with FAST victories in the simultaneous by-elections in the Siʻumu and Faleata No. 4 constituencies, handed FAST a two-thirds majority in parliament.[6] Mauʻu was sworn back into parliament on 24 October 2023.[7]

On 15 January 2025 he was appointed Minister of Communications and Information Technology following the sacking of Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo.[8]

References

1. Soli Wilson (15 April 2021). "Mauʻu guaranteed a seat in XVII Parliament". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
2. "Fake kava warning". Fiji Times. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
3. "BREAKING NEWS: Another HRPP Member of Parliament resigns". Talamua Online. Apia. 25 November 2022. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
4. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (19 July 2023). "MPs Ale, Tuu'u and Mau'u to head to by-election". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
5. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (21 July 2023). "F.A.S.T. to endorse resigned M.Ps". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
6. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (16 September 2023). "F.A.S.T. trio dominate poll results". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
7. Lagi Keresoma (24 October 2023). "Three New FAST Members of Parliament Sworn-In". Talamua Online. Apia. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
8. "New Cabinet Ministers take oath". Samoa Observer. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.

Legislative Assembly of Samoa
Preceded by Tialavea Tionisio Hunt	Member of Parliament for Vaʻa-o-Fonoti 2021–2023	Vacant Title next held by Himself
Vacant Title last held by Himself	Member of Parliament for Vaʻa-o-Fonoti 2023–present	Incumbent