People expect to give lafo says rugby star

Peter Fatialofa

Mangere MP Taito Phillip Field won support yesterday from an unexpected quarter - Samoan rugby icon Peter Fatialofa.

The former Samoa and Auckland prop, who holds the high chiefly title "Papaliitele", said he was speaking on behalf of other Samoan chiefs who regularly received money in the form of "lafo", or customary thanks, from their people.

Mr Field has held the title of "Taito", or chief, of his home village of Manase since 1974.

Mr Fatialofa, who runs an Auckland piano-moving business, said Mr Field had not asked for money in return for his services as an MP, but many Samoans would expect to give him lafo when they visited him.

"People, when they come to talk to me in my office say, 'Here's $50 for you,"' he said. "I say, 'Thanks, mate, you don't have to do it, but if you want to do it, well, thanks,' because it's not very good to say no ... It's part of the custom. You just put the money on top of your forehead and say thanks."

He said lafo ranged from $20 for small matters up to $1000 for attending a wedding or funeral. Sometimes a "talking chief" would receive lafo for speaking at an event, but higher chiefs such as Mr Field and himself would receive gifts simply for attending.

"You have levels of chiefs," he said. "There are the up-and-coming chiefs, and above that the next level, and then the high chief who doesn't speak. All the high chiefs don't speak. They just sit there and get cool."