The strange political history behind matai titles and New Zealand prime ministers

What has probably been the worst-kept secret in the Pacific is now all but confirmed: New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is expected to receive a matai title during his visit to Sāmoa next week.

The honour carries deep cultural meaning in Sāmoa. But it also comes with a curious political history for New Zealand leaders.

Over the years, several prime ministers have received a Sāmoan chiefly title while in office. In many cases, their time in power did not last much longer.

Robert Muldoon received a matai title when he was bestowed the honour in 1981.

Three years later, he lost the 1984 election after calling a snap vote that swept David Lange’s Labour Party into government.

Lange himself would receive a matai title, Tagaloa, from the village of Le’auva’a. Within a few years, Labour would lose the 1990 election amid deep internal divisions.

Robert Muldoon was bestowed with the Samoan title of matai in a formal ceremony at the Beehive. Photo/John Nicholson

Jim Bolger also joined the list. During his time in office he was bestowed a matai title, but his premiership ended abruptly in 1997 when he was replaced by his own National Party caucus and succeeded by Jenny Shipley.

More recently, Bill English was given the title Leulua’iali’iotumua in Sāmoa in 2017. That same year, his National Party lost government when Labour formed a coalition.

Even John Key, who received the title To’osavili in 2009, stepped down before the next election, ending his tenure as prime minister earlier than many had expected.

In June 2017, then-New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English was bestowed with the Samoan high chief (matai) title Leulua'iali'iotumua by Faleula village. Photo/Samoan government

None of this means a matai title brings political misfortune. In Sāmoa, these titles are deeply meaningful cultural honours given by villages to recognise relationships, service, and connection.

Luxon now enters that history at a time when polling has shown National slipping to its lowest numbers since returning to power at the end of 2023.

The timing also carries wider symbolism for New Zealand’s relationship with the Pacific.

Luxon’s visit comes almost two years after the sinking of the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui off Sāmoa in October 2024. The incident raised questions about Aotearoa’s role and responsibilities in the region.

The New Zealand Government made a payment of $6 million at the request of the Sāmoan government, but some critics have argued the amount does not reflect the long-term impact on nearby communities.

Against that backdrop, the matai title being given to Luxon has also sparked discussion in Sāmoa about what such honours represent.

Sāmoa’s Prime Minister, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt, and New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon met late last year. Luxon's office denies he asked for a Samoan matai title. Photo/Supplied

Falaniko Tominiko II, a cultural commentator, explained that the title expected to be bestowed on Luxon, Tuisinavemaulumoto’otua, carries deep meaning connected to Apia itself.

“It is a beautiful name and it can be broken up into Tui-Sinave-ma-Ulumoto’otua,” Falaniko wrote in a Facebook post.

“Tui means ‘head of’ or ‘king’. Sinave and Ulumoto’otua are the two malae (ceremonial grounds) of Apia where cultural events and gatherings occur.

“Therefore ‘the King of Sinave and Ulumoto’otua’, and one can go as far as interpreting it as King of Apia, the capital of Sāmoa.”

Falaniko stresses that a matai title is not simply an honorific. “A matai is a decision maker for their family and they represent them in the village fono (council) of chiefs.”

He points to a famous Sāmoan proverb: ‘o le ala i le pule, o le tautua’, which translates to ‘the path to leadership is through service’.

Watch an explainer on the matai system below.

As Luxon prepares to lead an 80-person delegation to Sāmoa and Tonga next week, he will join a long list of New Zealand leaders who have received a matai title.

Whether he will also follow the political path of some of his predecessors, or break the pattern, remains to be seen.

This article has been updated to state that Falaniko Tominiko II is a cultural commentator.