A well known Samoan educator in New Zealand, Tofaeono Tanuvasa Tavale, has died.
The chief executive of the ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Pauline Winter, says Tofaeono was a leader, an author, an educator and an elder statesman in the old tradition.
She says he contributed greatly to the preservation of the Samoan language in New Zealand.
He was a board member and tutor at the Pasifika Education Centre, a university lecturer, a secondary school teacher and a Samoan cultural competitions judge.
In addition, Tofaeono wrote several books in the Samoan language.
