{{Short description|New Zealand politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Councillor | image = File:Lotu Fuli.jpg | name = Lotu Fuli | office = Manukau ward Councillor | preceded = Efeso Collins | alongside = Alf Filipaina | term_end = | term_start = 2022 | party = Labour {{Infobox scientist | embed = yes | thesis1_title = Definiteness vs. specificity : an investigation into the terms used to describe articles in Gagana Samoa | thesis1_url = https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/handle/2292/20309 | thesis1_year = 2007 }} }}
'''Lotu Fuli''' is a New Zealand politician who is an Auckland Councillor. In 2022, Fuli was elected as one of the two councillors for the Manukau ward.
==Early life== Lotu was born in Samoa and came to New Zealand with her family in the 1970s, originally living in Mount Eden.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2018/09/southside-rising/ |title=Southside Rising: The Ōtara story |date=September 2018 |work=Stuff |first=Harrison |last=Christian |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref> They moved to Ōtara in 1976 and she has lived there since. She graduated from the University of Auckland with a Master of Letters (M.Litt.) in 2007, with a thesis titled ''Definiteness vs. specificity: an investigation into the terms used to describe articles in Gagana Samoa''.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Fuli |first=Lotu |year=2007 |type=Masters thesis |title=Definiteness vs. specificity : an investigation into the terms used to describe articles in Gagana Samoa |publisher=ResearchSpace@Auckland, University of Auckland |hdl=2292/20309}}</ref> After spending time teaching secondary schools in Auckland, Japan, and South Korea, she returned to university to achieve a Bachelor of Laws with Honours.<ref name="profile">{{cite web |url=http://www.labour.org.nz/lotufuli |title=Lotu Fuli – List Candidate – NZ Labour Party |publisher=New Zealand Labour Party |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929135756/http://www.labour.org.nz/lotufuli |archive-date=29 September 2020 |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref>
==Political career== {{AC header}} {{Auckland Council|colour={{#invoke:Political party|fetch|New Zealand Labour Party|color}}|affiliation=Labour|ward=Manukau|start=2022|end=present}} {{end}}
Fuli was elected to the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board in 2013 Auckland local board elections.<ref name="profile"/> She was chairperson from 2016 to 2022.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2017/07/local-boards-sign-agreement-with-ngati-tamaoho/ |title=Local boards sign agreement with Ngāti Tamaoho |website=Our Auckland |publisher=Auckland Council |date=15 June 2020 |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/300146182/south-aucklanders-reflect-on-the-super-city-10-years-on |title=South Aucklanders reflect on the super city 10 years on |website=Stuff |date=30 October 2020 |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref>
On 15 June 2020, the New Zealand Labour Party published its list for the {{NZ election link|2020}}, with Fuli placed 63rd.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/06/health-minister-david-clark-slips-in-labour-s-ranks-infectious-disease-expert-ayesha-verrall-joins-list.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615025216/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/06/health-minister-david-clark-slips-in-labour-s-ranks-infectious-disease-expert-ayesha-verrall-joins-list.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 June 2020 |title=Health Minister David Clark slips in Labour's ranks, infectious disease expert Ayesha Verrall joins list |newspaper=Newshub |date=15 June 2020 |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref> She was bumped up to 61st following the withdrawal of Raymond Huo and Iain Lees-Galloway. Her list placement was not high enough to elect Fuli.
In the 2022 local body elections, Fuli was elected as a councillor for the Manukau ward,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=15 October 2022 |title=Local elections 2022 – Official results |url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/elections/elections-2022-results/results/local-elections-2022-official-results-combined.pdf |access-date=15 October 2022 |website=Local elections 2022 – Official results |publisher=Auckland Council}}</ref> a role formerly held by Efeso Collins, who ran for mayor.
Fuli is running for re-election as a councillor in the 2025 elections.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Afemata |first1=Mary |title=Council hopefuls say South Auckland needs more resources |url=https://pmn.co.nz/read/politics-/council-hopefuls-say-south-auckland-needs-more-resources |access-date=10 August 2025 |work=PMN {{!}} Pacific Media Network |date=7 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuli, Lotu}} Category:1970s births Category:21st-century New Zealand women politicians Category:Auckland Councillors Category:Living people Category:New Zealand Labour Party politicians Category:Samoan emigrants to New Zealand Category:University of Auckland alumni Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2020 New Zealand general election Category:Year of birth missing (living people)