Talofa lava, My name is Quinette Elisapeta Tatupu. I was born and raised in Samoa and only migrated to New Zealand in 2019. My parents were EFKS Church Ministers at Faleasi’u in Samoa and that was our home for 32 years. I am married to my high school sweetheart Liuuaina Tatupu, and we live in Milton. We are blessed with 4 children and are proud grandparents. I attended all my primary and college education in Samoa before I enrolled with the University of the South Pacific in Fiji where I graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Economics, Management and Public Administration. I am currently pursuing my MBA at the University of Otago. From the years 2000-2019 I worked mainly in the financial sector - Ministry of Finance, Development Bank of Samoa, Samoa Housing Corporation, Samoa Commercial Bank Limited and 7 years managing a family business in retailing, car rentals and a charitable trust that supported early childhood and pre-schools around the country. I was bestowed two chief titles – Lemalu from Safaatoa, Lefaga and Tuiloma from Sapunaoa, Falealili and with them came huge responsibilities, but like my parents, serving my family, my villages, the church, and the community was anything but new. My husband and I currently lead our Church Youth Group and our passion is to develop and equip young Pacific Islanders in whichever way possible. It is an honour and privilege to work for the Pacific Trust Otago serving our communities and embracing cultural diversity here in the Otago and Southland regions.
