Born in Vaiala village, Samoa, in 1929. Daugther of the late Tunupopo Patu and Va’asamalelagi Taule’ale’ausumai. Her father was high chief of Vaiala, and her brother Patu Ativalu Tunupopo became a Samoan Parliament MP. At 22 years of age, she moved to Wellington and studied at the Gilbey's Business College in the early 1950s on a Samoan government scholarship. On return to Samoa, she worked as a shorthand typist in the Samoan Parliament, and as a secretary for Sir Guy Powles, New Zealand Administrator in Samoa.
Emigrated to New Zealand in 1954 with her husband Ta'atofa Kenneth Laban (1926-1994). Her career in New Zealand included work as a private secretary for Dr Rafter at the DSIR, and managing a typist pool at Social Welfare Department. Member of the first Samoan Advisory Council.
Worked for Radio New Zealand for 30 years as a translator and broadcastor of the "World News" in English to Samoan language, for broadcast to Samoa. Awarded a Queens Service medal (QSM) for this work.
Mother of MP Luamanuvao Winne Laban and broadcaster Fauono Ken Laban.
