The Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, was among the first to congratulate award-winning author, Emeritus Professor Maualaivao Albert Wendt on Thursday.
<script async src="http://www.samoaobserver.ws///pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- ads-articles(24.03.14) -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-9419815128221199"
data-ad-slot="2395638412"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
The congratulations from the Head of State and lifetime friend of Maualaivao followed the conferral of an honorary doctorate on the Professor by the National University of Samoa (N.U.S) in recognition of his services and achievements for Samoa.
During a celebratory lunch at Sails Restaurant Mulinu’u, Professor Maualaivao was joined by His Highness Tui Atua, the Masiofo, Her Highness Filifilia Tamasese and his immediate relatives – including another award-winning author in the family, Lani Wendt-Young.
Also present were his friends - poet Ruperake Petaia, award-winning journalist and Editor-in-Chief of the Samoa Observer, Savea Sano Malifa, Director of the Centre for Samoan Studies, Leasiolagi Malama Meleisea and Maualaivao’s partner, Reina Whatiri. Born in 1939 in Apia, Samoa, Maualaivao is a Professor of English at the University of Auckland, and an acclaimed Samoan-born novelist and poet.
He has been an influential figure in the developments that have shaped New Zealand and Pacific literature since the 1970s..
In the meantime, here are some photos from the gathering at Sails to honour Maualaivao:
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-2469982834957525"
data-ad-slot="1033882026"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}