Mauga Precious Chang Appointed as Attorney General for 3-Year Term

2026-01-29 - 05:14

The Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mauga Precious Chang as Attorney General of Samoa for a term of three years. Prime Minister Hon Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Fosi Schmidt announced the appointment at his press conference on Thursday 29 January 2026. Mauga was last week appointed as interim Attorney General for Samoa, when Suá Hellene Wallwork completed her term of four years as AG. Mauga holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Prior to her appointment as AG, Mauga was a Partner at the law firm Lui and Chang, founded in 2017. She also served in the Office of the Attorney General as Assistant AG and National Public Prosecutor. The position of the Attorney General was advertised late last year with applications due in December 2025. The Prime Minister confirmed that Mauga was one of three applicants, however, two applications were deemed incomplete “e lei lava information required”. The Attorney General of Samoa is appointed under Article 41 of the Constitution of the Independent State of Samoa 1961. This constitutional provision states that the Head of State (O le Ao Mamalu o le Malo) appoints the Attorney General acting on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Constitution also requires that the Attorney General must be qualified to be a judge of the Supreme Court of Samoa and the Attorney General serves as the principal law officer of the country and acts as the Chief Executive of the Attorney General’s Office. The functions of the AG and the Office of the Attorney General are set out in the Attorney General’s Office Act 2013.