Aliʻimuamua Sandra AlofivaeMNZM (bornc. 1967)[1][2] is a New Zealandbarrister.[3]
Alofivae set up a legal practice, King Alofivae Malosi, in 1994 with colleagues La-Verne King andIda Malosi,[4] and became a barrister sole in 2005.[3] She has represented children and their families[1] and her practice become one of the biggest child protection practices in South Auckland.[3] She served as aFamilies Commissioner for six months[1][2] and her work in this role influenced the 2014 Vulnerable Children’s Act.[3] Alofivae was also elected to theCounties Manukau District Health Board in December 2010.[1][5] She served two terms on the board,[3][6] but did not stand again in the 2016 elections.[7] Alofivae has been the chair of the South Auckland Social Well-Being Board, which works with the government on issues facing pre-school children.[3]
In 2018, Alofivae was appointed to a Royal Commission of Inquiry, commissioned by theNew Zealand government, to investigate abuse and neglect of people in state care and in faith-based institutions.[8] This Commission is scheduled to produce two reports: one in 2020 and one in 2023.[9]
In April 2019 the Commission did not answer questions on whether Alofivae, who isPresbyterian, had a conflict of interest.[10] Her subsequent conflict of interest management plan provided that she would not sit on any hearings relating to the Presbyterian Church,[11]
In the2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, Alofivae was appointed aMember of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the Pacific community and youth.[12][13] In 2018 she received a Blake Leader Award, presented by theSir Peter Blake Trust.[3] She also has an honorific title bestowed to her by her family in the village of Sa'anapu, Samoa.[1]
Alofivae grew up inMāngere,Auckland.[1] Her father died when she was one year old.[3] She attendedEpsom Girls' Grammar School, describing it as "a very white school" and saying "I didn’t experience any real racism until I started high school."[14] She is a mother of four and is aPresbyterian.[3]
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