Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
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Tu’i’onetoa in 2020
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| 17th Prime Minister of Tonga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 8 October 2019 – 27 December 2021 |
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| Monarch | Tupou VI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Semisi Sika Sione Vuna Fa'otusia Lord Maʻafu |
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| Preceded by | Semisi Sika (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Siaosi Sovaleni | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Tonga People's Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 20 September 2019 – 19 March 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Party established | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Member of the Tongan Parliament for Tongatapu 10 |
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| In office 27 November 2014 – 19 March 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Semisi Tapueluelu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 30 June 1951 Talafo’ou, Tonga |
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| Died | 19 March 2023 (aged 71) United States |
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| Nationality | Tongan citizenship | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Tonga People's Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Hena Tuʻiʻonetoa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Monash University Institute of Certified Management Accountants |
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Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa (30 June 1951 – 19 March 2023) was a Tongan accountant and politician who served as the 17th Prime Minister of Tonga from 2019 to 2021. Tu'i'onetoa succeeded Semisi Sika, who had served as acting prime minister, since the death of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva.
Contents
Early life and education
Born in Talafo’ou on 30 June 1951, Tu’i’onetoa graduated from Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand in 1982, and then the Monash University in 1993. He had a diploma in financial management and a master of business degree. He was also a certified management accountant.
Career
Tu’i’onetoa joined the Tonga Civil Service in January 1979. He was the Official Liquidator of the Commercial Division of the Department of Justice in Hamilton, New Zealand. Between 1983 and 2014 he served as Tonga's Auditor. He was a Private Secretary to King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV from 1987–1988, and also clerk to the Privy Council during the same period. He ran unsuccessfully for parliament in the 2010 Tongan general election.
In the 2014 general election, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga to represent the constituency of Tongatapu 10. In the government of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva, he was Minister of Labor, Commerce and Industries, and Minister of Police, Prisons and Fire Services. In March 2017 he was appointed Minister of Revenue and Customs, replacing Tevita Lavemaau. He held that position until January 2018, when he was appointed Minister of Finance and National Planning.
Prime Minister of Tonga (2019–2021)
On 27 September 2019, Tu’i’onetoa was elected prime minister by fifteen votes against eight for Semisi Sika, who served as acting prime minister. It was officially announced by King Tupou VI on 9 October 2019. He announced his Cabinet appointments on 10 October.
On 12 January 2021, Tu'i'onetoa survived a confidence vote in Parliament, by 13 votes to 9.
Tuʻiʻonetoa was re-elected to parliament in the 2021 election, and announced his candidacy for re-election as Prime Minister, but later withdrew as a contender to back ʻAisake Eke. He was succeeded as Prime Minister by Siaosi Sovaleni.
On 29 April 2022, Tonga's Supreme Court declared his election void after finding he had bribed a women's group by offering them 50,000 Pa'anga. The conviction was stayed pending appeal on 26 May 2022. On 9 June 2022 he was again found to have committed bribery in a second election petition. On 9 August 2022 the Court of Appeal overturned both petitions.
Personal life and death
Tuʻiʻonetoa died in March 2023, at the age of 71.
Honours
- National honours;
Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III, Commander (31 July 2008).
See also
In Spanish: Pōhiva Tu'i'onetoa para niños
