Editing Winnie Laban (section)

==Early life==
Laban was born in [[Wellington]] on 14 August 1955 to Samoan parents, Ta'atofa Kenneth Laban and Emi Tunupopo.<ref name="Whos who">{{cite book |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first= Alister |editor-link= Alister Taylor |title= New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001 |year=2001 |publisher= Alister Taylor Publishers |location= Auckland |issn=1172-9813 |page=526}}</ref> Laban's maternal grandfather, Fauono Tunupopo Patu had been a member of the Samoan Legislative Assembly before independence in 1962, and on her paternal side her grandfather, Leutele Va’afusuaga Poutoa, served as a member of the first independent government of Samoa and was the Minister of Lands in that first democratically elected Samoan government.<ref name=Husband1>{{cite web |last= Husband |first= Dale |title= Ken Laban: The lasting legacy from migrant parents |publisher= Mana Trust |date= 24 May 2015|url= https://e-tangata.co.nz/korero/the-lasting-legacy-from-migrant-parents/ |accessdate= 24 November 2020}}</ref>

Her parents were public servants in Samoa at the time they emigrated in 1954 to take up government positions in Wellington, New Zealand and also to ensure that any children they had gained New Zealand citizenship.<ref name=Husband1/><ref name= Macdonald>{{cite web |last= Macdonald |first=Nikki |title= Winnie from Wainui – a lifetime of showing Pasifika what's possible |publisher= Stuff|location=New Zealand |date= 21 November 2020 |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/women-of-influence/123406794/winnie-from-wainui--a-lifetime-of-showing-pasifika-whats-possible |accessdate= 22 November 2020}}</ref>
Laban grew up in [[Wainuiomata]] with her younger brother [[Ken Laban]], who subsequently served as a policeman, a community worker, sports commentator and as a local body politician.<ref name="migrant parents">{{cite web |last=Husband |first=Dale |date=24 May 2015 |title=Ken Laban: The lasting legacy from migrant parents |url=https://e-tangata.co.nz/korero/the-lasting-legacy-from-migrant-parents/ |access-date=13 October 2022 |website=E-Tangata}}</ref>

She was educated at [[Erskine College, Wellington|Erskine College]], and [[Wellington Girls' College]] from 1969 to 1971.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/the-wellingtonian/9211091/The-road-to-Erskine-College | title=The road to Erskine College | date=27 September 2013 | work=The Wellingtonian | accessdate=7 January 2016 | first=Mary | last=Nichols}}</ref><ref>[http://www.wellington-girls.school.nz/sites/default/files/School%20Ties_December%202012.pdf ''School Ties: Wellington Girls' College alumnae newsletter'']. Issue 16, December 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2013.</ref>
 
After leaving school, she worked as a [[family therapist]] and community development worker, for the [[Te Puni Kokiri|Māori Affairs Department]] where she focused particularly on the [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]] community of New Zealand.<ref name= Macdonald/>
  
[[Ihakara Puketapu|Kara Puketapu]] the head of the Māori Affairs Department encouraged her to formally study social work, using an admission provision for the entry of over-20s.<ref name= Macdonald /> Laban graduated with a diploma in social work from the [[Victoria University of Wellington]],<ref name="Whos who"/> and later in development studies from [[Massey University]].<ref name="Whos who"/>

She later worked as a probation officer.<ref name= Macdonald/>

In 1981 she was involved in protests against the [[1981 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand and the United States|Springbok Tour of New Zealand]].<ref name= Macdonald/>