Aliʻimuamua Sandra Alofivae MNZM (born c. 1967) [1] [2] is a New Zealand barrister. [3]
Alofivae set up a legal practice, King Alofivae Malosi, in 1994 with colleagues La-Verne King and Ida 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 a Families Commissioner for six months [1] [2] and her work in this role influenced the 2014 Vulnerable Childrenâs Act. [3] Alofivae was also elected to the Counties 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 the New 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 is Presbyterian, 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 the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, Alofivae was appointed a Member 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 the Sir 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 in MÄngere, Auckland. [1] Her father died when she was one year old. [3] She attended Epsom Girls' Grammar School, describing it as "a very white school" and saying "I didnât experience any real racism until I started high school." [14] She is a mother of four and is a Presbyterian. [3]