matai title

The 19-year-old was granted the title of “matai", meaning chief. His obtaining of the title also means he now goes by a “chief name”, and Suaalii's is “Anavaotaua Iosefa Aukuso Suaalii”, and the Samoan fullback discussed why his is a bit different from usual.

“Usually in Samoa, they'll call you by one of your village names, but I'd prefer to represent both my grandparents' people because of the honours they've given me,” Suaalii told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“So I've combined the two and every time I go back to Samoa, they'll greet me by my chief name.”

MP Agnes Loheni was bestowed the high chief title of Fonoti by her extended family with the traditional ava presented by matai of the village and the district.

The offering of traditional blessings was held in place of the usual mass which was cancelled because of time constraints.

Family spokesperson and former Samoan Parliamentarian Tauiliili Harry Schuster told the Samoa Observer that their family was proud that Ms Loheni has become a parliamentarian in New Zealand.