Professor Tafaoimalo Tologata Leilani Tuala-Warren has been named Dean of Te Piringa Faculty of Law at the University of Waikato, making her the first Pacific Islander to hold this position in New Zealand. She feels honoured and excited to serve Te Piringa, the University, and the broader community, hoping to show that studying law is achievable for everyone.
“Te Piringa offers a unique learning environment focused on professionalism, law in context, and biculturalism,” says Professor Tuala-Warren.
These core values set Te Piringa apart from other law schools, aiming to create graduates who are well-rounded and ready to apply the law effectively while understanding New Zealand’s unique cultural context, especially the significance of Tangata Whenua (the Indigenous people).
Professor Tuala-Warren has been with the University since the 1990s, where she completed her Bachelor and Master of Laws and a pre-admission course at the University’s Institute of Professional Legal Studies.
Her master’s thesis explored ifoga, a traditional Samoan apology, and its potential integration into New Zealand’s criminal justice system.
In 2022, she received the University of Waikato Distinguished Alumni Award. She also holds an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Sydney.
Te Piringa is known for its vibrant and diverse environment, welcoming international students and prioritizing students from Aotearoa (New Zealand).
“The University and the Pasifika community have a strong relationship, producing high-achieving Pasifika graduates who excel globally, especially in the Pacific region. I am committed to strengthening these connections with all Pacific nations and the Pacific-descendant population in Aotearoa.”
Professor Tuala-Warren started her legal career in Samoa 26 years ago, working as a state solicitor in the Attorney-General’s Office from 1998 to 2000. She then returned to Waikato University to teach until 2005, holding various positions such as tutor, teaching fellow, and law lecturer, where she taught dispute resolution, corporate and commercial law, and consumer protection.
She later returned to Samoa to join her brother’s firm, Tuala & Tuala Lawyers, as a partner. In 2009, she became the Executive Director of the Samoa Law Reform Commission. In 2013, she was appointed as a judge of the District Court, becoming the second woman in Samoa to hold this position.
As a judge, Professor Tuala-Warren established the Family Court and the Family Violence Court, the only such court in the Pacific outside of New Zealand. She later served as a Supreme Court Justice of Samoa from 2016 to 2023.
She also holds a temporary judicial warrant as a Supreme Court Justice in Samoa, allowing her to sit on the Samoa Court of Appeal, where she handled serious offences and constitutional cases.
Returning to Waikato, she became the first Pacific woman in New Zealand to achieve a law professorial position.
“My family, especially my late father, have always supported me in my law journey. This achievement is not just mine; it reflects the support of my heritage, family, friends, village, church community, and judicial colleagues in Samoa.
“I carry the hopes of my entire nation with me and aim to make them proud while also serving the people of Aotearoa.”