Member of parliament for the constituency of Falealupo, Aeau Dr Peniamina Leavaise’eta passed away this week. A specialist in orthodontics, the seasoned politician was 82 and regarded as one of the longest-serving MPs. 

Aeau’s service to the country was not restricted to the political arena, he also served at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital as a specialist and consultant for 46 years.  

The former MP has been remembered as a well-respected member of the former opposition party, Tautua Samoa and was one of the last two members standing in 2016 before the party’s dissolution. 

He first entered parliament in 1985 as the representative for Falealupo under the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) banner.

In 1988, the veteran politician returned to parliament as the Speaker of the House until 1991 before losing his seat in the 1991 general election. 

Aeau defied all odds when he became the first representative to successfully win the Falealupo seat under the Samoa National Development Party (SNDP) despite being banished from the village. 

Following his time in SNDP, Aeau joined other independent members and established the Tautua Samoa Party and remained with the political party until he retired at the 2021 election. 

Aeau was the Deputy Leader for Tautua Samoa and a staunch opposition despite the party not meeting the quorum of members to be recognised as an opposition in the House.  

He was a proud Marist old boy and attended the Fiji School of Medicine in 1968, graduating with a Diploma in Dental Surgery and studied at the University of London from 1973 to 1974. 

Aeau was nominated as one of Samoa Observer’s People of the Year in 2020, marking his exit from politics. 

During his political life, he met Queen Elizabeth II and presented her with an ava bowl during the monarch’s 1977 visit.