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.Malama Meleisea (1987) The Making of Modern Samoa: Traditional Authority and Colonial Administration in the History of Western Samoa University of the South Pacific, p176 He was educated at the Marist school, and later became a trader based in Falealili, where he married Pulaloa, who was also half German and the daughter of a Samoan chief.
During World War II Nauer was deported to New Zealand as a result of his German citizenship and interned. Whilst in New Zealand he studied commercial law and accountancy. When he returned to Samoa after the war, he renounced his European status, becoming one of the first European-Samoans to take Samoan status. He took the title Tofa Tōmasi,Penelope Schoeffel Meleisea (1987) Lagaga: A Short History of Western Samoa University of the South Pacific, p150 and lived as a matai at Faleasiu, where he ran a small shop. After being nominated to be a member of the Legislative Assembly for A'ana as part of the 1948 election process, he was initially unable to take his seat due to his German nationality.W. Samoa's New Assembly Now Taking Shape: Samoan Members Chosen Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1948, p49 However, after gaining British citizenship, he was able to become a member of the legislature.German-Samoan Elected to New Council Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1948, p15 He was subsequently re-elected in the 1951 elections,Western Samoan Assembly Election Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1951, p9 and remained an MLA until his death on 9 February 1953 at the age of 43,Leadership in Western Samoa Te Ao Hou, December 1957Hon. Tofa Tomasi Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1953, p108 having been widely viewed as a strong candidate to become Samoa's first Prime Minister.(1) It's a vital, young cabinet Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1970, p50
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.
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