1. Winnie Laban served as the Member of Parliament for the Mana electorate, representing the Labour Party, and was the Labour Party's spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs and for interfaith dialogue.
17 Facts About Winnie Laban
1. 2.
Winnie Laban was born in Wellington on 14 August 1955 to Samoan parents, Ta'atofa Kenneth Winnie Laban and Emi Tunupopo.
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Winnie Laban's parents were public servants in Samoa at the time they emigrated in 1954 to take up government positions in Wellington, New Zealand and to ensure that any children they had gained New Zealand citizenship.
4.
Winnie Laban grew up in Wainuiomata with her younger brother Ken Winnie Laban, who subsequently served as a policeman, a community worker, sports commentator and as a local body politician.
5.
Winnie Laban was educated at Erskine College, and Wellington Girls' College from 1969 to 1971.
6.
Winnie Laban graduated with a diploma in social work from the Victoria University of Wellington, and later in development studies from Massey University.
7.
Winnie Laban changed her mind when in 1998 at the age of 44, she took a weeping call from an uncle who worked at Wainuiomata's Kensons car part factory which was closing without warning or any redundancy being offered to the 100 workers who were losing their jobs.
8.
Winnie Laban was first elected to Parliament in the 1999 election as a list MP, becoming New Zealand's first Pacific Island woman MP.
9.
On 10 August 2010 Winnie Laban announced she would resign from Parliament to take up a position as an assistant vice-chancellor at Victoria University of Wellington, leading to a by-election in the Mana electorate.
10.
Winnie Laban ceased being a member of parliament on 15 October 2010.
11.
Winnie Laban was chair of the Pacific Arts Committee from 2013 to 2014.
12.
Winnie Laban was appointed to the Creative New Zealand Arts Council in 2014.
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Winnie Laban has been a member of the National University of Samoa Council since 2012 and the Institute of Judicial Studies Board since 2011.
14.
In 1992, Winnie Laban was bestowed the Samoan matai chiefly title Luamanuvao from the village of Vaiala, Vaimauga, in recognition of her work.
15.
Winnie Laban was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to education and the Pacific community.
16.
At the 2020 Women of Influence Awards in New Zealand, Winnie Laban received a lifetime achievement award.
17.
In 2023, Winnie Laban received an honorary doctorate from the National University of Samoa.