Luamanuvao Winnie Laban

Luamanuvao Winnie Laban (Born 1955) is a New Zealand politician. She is a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Labour Party representing the Mana electorate.

Early life and family

Laban was born in Wellington to Samoan parents. Before entering politics, she was a family therapist and community development worker, focusing particularly on the Pacific Island community of New Zealand.

Winnie attended university at Victoria University of Wellington and graduated with a degree in Social Work and later a degree in Development Studies from Massey University. In 1992, she was awarded the Samoan chiefly title "Luamanuvao" from the village of Vaiala, Vaimauga, in recognition of her work.

She is sister of Ken Laban, a former candidate for the mayoralty of Hutt City.

Member of Parliament

Laban was first elected to Parliament in the 1999 elections as a list MP, where she became New Zealand's first Pacific Island woman member of Parliament. In the 2002 elections, she successfully contested the Mana electorate, which had formerly been held by Labour MP Graham Kelly. At the 2005 election she was re-elected by a margin of 6,734 votescite web|title=Official Count Results -- Mana|publisher=Electoral Commission|date=1 October 2005|url=http://2005.electionresults.govt.nz/electorate-22.html|accessdate=2007-12-30]

Minister

She is currently the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs.

External links

* [http://www.winnie.org.nz/ www.winnie.org.nz]
* [http://www.labour.org.nz/Our_mps_top/winnie_laban/biography.html Labour Party biography]

References