Frank Lui facts for kids

Frank Fakaotimanava Lui (19 November 1935 – 9 July 2021) was an important politician from Niue. He served as the Premier of this Pacific Island country from 1993 to 1999. The Premier is like the leader or prime minister of Niue.

Frank Lui's Early Life

Growing Up in Niue and New Zealand

Frank Lui was born in Alofi, Niue. His parents and older brothers and sisters moved to Wellington, New Zealand. Frank stayed in Niue and was raised by his grandparents.

When he was nine years old, his parents sent for him. He then went to school in New Zealand. He attended Newtown School and later Naenae School. In 1950, he went to Wellington High School.

Returning Home and Standing Up for Rights

After school, Frank Lui worked in the New Zealand merchant navy. He returned to Niue in 1956. He wanted to take care of his grandparents. He lived in Niue for the rest of his life.

When he came back, he saw that people from Niue were treated unfairly. For example, they could not buy alcohol. They also earned less money than people from New Zealand who lived there. This unfair treatment made him want to get involved in politics. He even organized the first-ever strike in Niue to protest these rules.

Frank Lui's Political Journey

Becoming a Member of the Assembly

Frank Lui was elected to the Niue Assembly in 1963. He was only 28 years old. This made him the youngest person ever elected to the Assembly. The Assembly is like Niue's parliament.

He lost his seat in the 1966 election. But he was re-elected in 1969. He was elected again in 1972. Then he became a Minister in the government. He was in charge of things like public works and police.

Serving in the Cabinet

Frank Lui was re-elected without anyone running against him in 1975. He became the Minister for Electricity, Fisheries, Forests, Tourism, and Works. Over the next 15 years, he held many different jobs in the government.

In 1990, he was removed from the Cabinet. This happened after he tried to remove the leader, Robert Rex.

Leading Niue as Premier

First Term as Premier (1993-1996)

After Robert Rex passed away in 1992, Young Vivian became Premier. Frank Lui was re-elected to the Assembly in 1993. On March 12, he was elected Premier. He won against Young Vivian by 11 votes to 9.

During his first term, there were some challenges. His Finance Minister, Sani Lakatani, resigned. He later rejoined and then resigned again. He joined the group that opposed the government. This made it hard for the government to pass new laws.

Second Term as Premier (1996-1999)

In the 1996 election, Frank Lui kept his seat. He was re-elected as Premier. He won by a close vote of 11 to 9. His second term was more stable.

His government passed important laws. They made new rules against corruption. They also banned a type of fishing called drift-net fishing. This ban protected Niue's ocean area. His government also helped set up free internet service for people in Niue.

Retirement from Politics

Frank Lui lost his seat in the 1999 election. After this, he announced that he was retiring from politics. Sani Lakatani became the new Premier.

After His Time in Politics

After retiring, Frank Lui ran a video rental business. In 2010, he became the head of the IUSN Foundation. This group helps people in Niue get free internet access.

Frank Lui passed away on July 9, 2021. He was 85 years old.

Recognition

In 1999, Frank Lui received a special honor. He was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This award recognized his important work and service.

See also

In Spanish: Frank Lui para niños