and the true role and importance of the person who has entered the family is denied. This conclusion is given further weight when considering how the perceived role has been undermined and misinterpreted over the years. The term maupaolo is viewed as a more appropriate and respectful term than nofotane to be given to such a person. The term maupaolo implies an elevated position within Samoan society that reflected their importance as the provider of future heirs to the family name and accordingly lived under the protection of that family. Although the Inquiry did not hear direct evidence of such it was also found that this type of violence is not the preserve of women only and men who go to live with their wives’ families (faiāva) also suffer this type of treatment in some circumstances. Case Study 19: Pandora’s* secret (abuse) Pandora married her husband Tapelu and moved into his family’s house where they went on to have two young daughters. In Tapelu’s house they live with his parents and four sisters who are also married with children. The situation within the household was unusual, to say the least because Tapelu’s father had remarried and his current wife was his own step-daughter. Pandora was aware of this but the family was not happy that she knew their secret and started to routinely beat her and verbally abuse her while Tapelu was at work. The violence continued and developed to the point where Tapelu would return from work and take his family’s side, joining in on the physical abuse and also beating his wife. *Names changed to protect the identities of those involved. Case Study 20: Lusia and the family bystanders Lusia had passed the test for a College and had high hopes and expectations when she married Siaki, a police officer. However, her world changed when she moved into the Siaki‘s family home. Lusia was viewed as a nofotane whose role it was to perform all the household chores from morning until dusk. Around this time her husband started to change and when he got home from work, he would drink and hang out with his boys. He had all the freedom he wanted as it was his family. Lusia became pregnant but at that time there was no communication between her and Siaki. He still acted like he did not have a care in the world, drinking and socializing all of the time he was not at work. Lusia confronted him about his behaviour and then the physical abuse began.