Samoan pioneer, academic, educator and writer Professor Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop celebrated her 80th birthday with family and friends last week.

She was a history maker when she became New Zealand’s first Pacific Professor and Order of New Zealand member.

“You’re just so busy doing. And then the next minute, you’re 80! I don’t know where all the time, the years, have gone,” she said,

Tagaloatele acknowledged her parents, Emele Moa Te’o and Jock Fairbairn, for instilling in her and her seven siblings the importance of faith, aiga, service and education.

Tagaloatele, the youngest of eight siblings, was born in Wellington when her parents and family emigrated to New Zealand in 1943. The Te’o-Fairbairn family established itself in Wellington while maintaining strong relationships in Samoa through trips back to see family; and the stream of Samoa scholarship students and family who called “Aunty Moa’s” home in Wellington home.

This included the late Samoa First Lady and High Commissioner to New Zealand Masiofo Laulu Fetaui Mata’afa and the late Police Commissioner, Saunoamaali’i Sonny Schuster.

In 1981, Tagaloatele, her husband Jim and their five children - Rochelle, Gabrielle-Sisifo, Melissa, Amanda-Lanuola and Emma - shifted to Samoa when Jim accepted a two-year teaching contract at Avele College.

They remained in Samoa for over 30 years. During that time, Tagaloatele held a number of senior positions including Lecturer at the Secondary Teachers College, and Acting Vice Chancellor at USP Alafua.

Tagaloatele was also highly active in the family’s church, Apia Protestant Church; and Samoa Netball Association where she coached the 1983 national team to the South Pacific Games and took them on their first international tour to New Zealand.

In 2006, Tagaloatele was appointed Associate Professor at Victoria University of Wellington where she established Va’amanu, its Pacific Studies department. She was then named Professor of Pacific Studies at Auckland University of Technology until she retired in 2018.

Currently, Tagaloatele is the New Zealand UNESCO Commissioner (Social Sciences). She has supervised more than 50 Pacific students to attain their PhDs, over 30 to attain master's degrees, and inspired many more to pursue education and learning.

“I have been blessed, and thank the Lord for his love, goodness, and the opportunities I have had to serve my family, community and country,” she said”

“I will always be grateful to the Samoan government for awarding me a scholarship in 1988 to undertake a PhD at Macquarie University in Sydney. Also to Laulu Fetuai Mata’afa and the women committees I have worked with throughout Samoa for their guidance and support.”

 Tagaloatele is excited about the future for Samoa and the Pacific.

“I am proud of the ways our Samoan and Pacific graduates are leading and serving in leadership posts in government, civil service and community organisations; and establishing pathways and opportunities for others to come through.”

“I am blessed and proud of my daughters and grandchildren, and what they have achieved. It is important our children have a good education, know who they are, and make contributions to our community - and I know my daughters have done that in their different fields of work. What more could a mother ask for?”

Eldest daughter, Rochelle, is a lawyer specialising in family law and lives in Sydney. Gabrielle-Sisifo, a senior manager at the New Zealand Ministry of Education, oversees the Ministry’s Pacific programmes. She is currently undertaking a PhD and lives in Wellington. Melissa, a qualified teacher, delivers financial capability training to Pacific communities in Wellington for a Pacific community provider. Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop, a public health expert, oversees over 100 early childhood education services in Auckland. Dr Emma Dunlop-Bennett, a development specialist and New Zealand diplomat has held posts in Fiji and South Africa and 12 African countries, and lives in Wellington.

Tagaloatele and her family are enjoying their time at home, before returning to New Zealand and Australia in early December.