Deputy Public Service Commissioner, Helene Quilter QSO has announced the appointment of Laulu Mac Leauanae to the position of Secretary for Culture and Heritage and Chief Executive, Manatū Taonga – Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
“I’m very pleased to appoint Laulu to this role,” Ms Quilter said, acknowledging Mr Leauanae’s Samoan chieftain title.
“Laulu is a well-known and respected leader across the Public Service and Aotearoa’s Pasifika communities where he has championed and prioritised the languages and cultures central to Pacific identities. Laulu has a deep understanding of what heritage and culture mean to the diverse communities that comprise Aotearoa.
“In addition, Laulu’s ability to build effective partnerships and increase the connectedness of communities to the public service will be of importance in his new role, as will his sophisticated context management and advisory skills,” she said.
Mr Leauanae is currently the Secretary for Pacific Peoples and Chief Executive at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, a position he has held since 2017.
From 2014-2017, he held the role of Chief Executive, Pacific Cooperation Foundation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade funded trade and development agency focussed on strengthening the whanaungatanga connections between Aotearoa and our Pacific neighbours.
Mr Leauanae is of Sāmoan descent and has āiga (extended family) connections with the villages of Fa’ala, Iva and Sa’anapu. His matai title Laulu is from Fa’ala where it was bestowed in a traditional saofa’i ceremony in July 2010.
“Laulu is a sophisticated organisational leader who is experienced at building and leading high performing teams. He also brings cultural competence and empathy to leadership, and I am looking forward to seeing the impact he will make. He is well positioned to take up this role,” said Ms Quilter.
He has been appointed for a period of five years from 17 October.
