Luamanuvao Dame Winifred Alexandra Laban (born 14 August 1955) is a former New Zealand politician. She served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mana electorate, representing the Labour Party, and was the Labour Party's spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs and for interfaith dialogue. Laban is the Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika) at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and is a respected leader in the local Pasifika community. Early life Laban was born in Wellington on 14 August 1955 to Samoan parents, Ta'atofa Kenneth Laban and Emi Tunupopo. Laban’s maternal grandfather, Fauono Tunupopo Patu had been a member of the Samoan Legislative Assembly before independence in 1962, and on her paternal side her grandfather, Leutele Va’afusuaga Poutoa, served as a member of the first independent government of Samoa and was the Minister of Lands in that first democratically elected Samoan government. Her parents were public servants in Samoa at the time they emigrated in 1954 to take up government positions in Wellington, New Zealand and also to ensure that any children they had gained New Zealand citizenship. Laban grew up in Wainuiomata with her younger brother Ken Laban, who subsequently served as a policeman, a community worker, sports commentator and as a local body politician. She was educated at Erskine College, and Wellington Girls' College from 1969 to 1971. After leaving school, she worked as a family therapist and community development worker, for the Māori Affairs Department where she focused particularly on the Pacific Island community of New Zealand. Kara Puketapu the head of the Māori Affairs Department encouraged her to formally study social work, using a admission provision for the entry of over-20s. Laban graduated with a diploma in social work from the Victoria University of Wellington, and later in development studies from Massey University. She later worked as a probation officer. In 1981 she was involved in protests against the Springbok Tour of New Zealand. Member of Parliament When she was 34 she was asked by Sonja Davies to stand for parliament but had declined as she couldn't stomach the policies known as “Rogernomics” that the Labour government was implementing at the time. Laban changed her mind when in 1998 at the age of 44, she took a weeping call from an uncle who worked at Wainuiomata’s Kensons car part factory which was closing without warning or any redundancy being offered to the 100 workers who were losing