Thomas Nauer

Thomas George Nauer (1910 – 9 February 1953), also known as Tofa Tōmasi, was a Western Samoan politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly between 1948 and 1953.

Biography Nauer was the son of a German trader and his Samoan wife, a daughter of a Fa'amatai. He was educated at the Marist school, and lived as a matai at Faleasiu, where he ran a small shop. However, after gaining British citizenship, he was able to become a member of the legislature. He was subsequently re-elected in the 1951 elections, and remained an MLA until his death on 9 February 1953 at the age of 43, having been widely viewed as a strong candidate to become Samoa's first Prime Minister.

Nauer's son George initially held European status, but also changed to Samoan, inheriting his father's title. He later became a government minister in 1970.