Young Vivian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Young Vivian
|
|
|---|---|
Vivian at a fiafia in Hakupu, 2006
|
|
| Premier of Niue | |
| In office 1 May 2002 – 19 June 2008 |
|
| Deputy | Fisa Igilisi Pihigia |
| Preceded by | Sani Lakatani |
| Succeeded by | Toke Talagi |
| In office 12 December 1992 – 9 March 1993 |
|
| Preceded by | Sir Robert Rex |
| Succeeded by | Frank Lui |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 1990–1993 |
|
| Premier | Robert Rex |
| Preceded by | Sani Lakatani |
| Succeeded by | Sani Lakatani |
| Minister of Education, Agriculture, and Economic Development | |
| In office 1969–1979 |
|
| Minister of Tourism | |
| In office 1969–1975 |
|
| Succeeded by | Frank Lui |
| Member of the Niue Parliament for Hakupu |
|
| In office 1969 – 6 May 2017 |
|
| Preceded by | Siakisoni |
| Succeeded by | Michael Jackson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 November 1935 Alofi, Niue |
| Political party | Niue People's Action Party (until 2003) Independent (from 2003) |
| Spouse | Vaitofuola (nee Ikiua-Lupo) |
Mititaiagimene Young Vivian (born 12 November 1935) is an important politician and diplomat from Niue. He was the leader, or Premier, of Niue two times. His first time was from December 1992 to March 1993, after Sir Robert Rex passed away. His second time was from 2002 to 2008.
Young Vivian also worked as a Cabinet Minister many times. He was a Minister for Education, Economic Development, and Agriculture. Later, he was the Minister of Finance under Robert Rex. He also served in the government of Sani Lakatani. From 1979 to 1982, he was the Secretary-General of the South Pacific Commission, an important group for islands in the Pacific.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Young Vivian started primary school in Niue. Then, he went to New Zealand for his high school education. He studied at St George's Preparatory School in Wanganui starting in 1949. After that, he attended Wanganui Collegiate School from 1951 to 1954.
After finishing his teacher training at Ardmore Teachers' College, Vivian returned to Niue. He worked as a teacher for almost ten years. Later, he took a special course at Victoria University of Wellington to learn how to teach English to people who speak it as a second language. He came back to Niue again in 1969.
Beginning His Political Career
Young Vivian was first chosen to be a member of the Niue Assembly in the 1969 election. He was appointed to the Executive Council, which is like a government cabinet. He served as the Member of Education in Robert Rex's government before Niue became independent.
He was re-elected in the 1972 election. He was part of the team that worked to make Niue an independent country. In the 1975 election, he was re-elected and became the Minister for Education, Agriculture, and Economic Development again. However, he no longer managed the Tourism part of the government, which went to Frank Lui.
In 1978, Vivian was chosen to be the Secretary-General of the South Pacific Commission. He left his job as a Minister to take on this new role. He worked in this position from 1979 to 1982. After that, he worked for the Niuean Government as a cultural officer. By 1984, he was back in the Legislative Assembly, but he was not chosen to be a Minister again at that time.
Leading the Opposition and First Time as Premier
Vivian was re-elected in the 1987 election. He became the leader of a new political group called the Niue People's Action Party (NPAP). As the leader of the opposition, he tried to get a vote of no confidence against Premier Rex in 1989. This vote didn't succeed, but three government members changed their support to Vivian's side.
In the 1990 election, Vivian's party, the NPAP, won 12 out of 20 seats. This meant they had the most seats. However, there was a disagreement over who should be the leader between Vivian and a new member, Sani Lakatani. Premier Rex managed to convince some members, led by Lakatani, to switch sides. So, Rex won the premiership with a vote of 12 to 8.
Less than six months later, Lakatani was removed from the Cabinet after he tried to remove Rex from power. Young Vivian was then appointed as the Minister of Finance, Education, and Administration. He later served as acting Premier when Rex was ill. After Rex passed away in December 1992, Vivian was elected Premier. He was re-elected to the Assembly in the 1993 election, but he lost the Premiership to Frank Lui by a vote of 11 to 9.
Second Time in Opposition
After losing the Premiership, Vivian became the leader of the Opposition again. In 1995, he worked with Sani Lakatani, who had also been removed from the Cabinet. Together, they caused a situation where the Parliament was stuck, and no new laws could be passed. The government tried to fix this by saying that the opposition members' seats were empty, but the Niue Court of Appeal said this was against the law.
The problem was finally solved when Vivian agreed that his party would support the government's budget. This helped to avoid having an early election. Vivian was re-elected without anyone running against him in the 1996 election, but he did not try to become Premier again.
Cabinet Role and Second Time as Premier
The Niue People's Party, which had been renamed, won most of the seats in the 1999 election. Sani Lakatani was elected Premier. Young Vivian was appointed to the Cabinet as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education.
Vivian was re-elected without opposition in the 2002 election. He was chosen as the leader of the NPP instead of Lakatani. He was then elected Premier, defeating Hunukitama Hunuki by 14 votes to 6. He appointed Lakatani as his Deputy, but he removed him just three months later because Lakatani voted against the budget.
As Premier, Vivian worked to improve Niue. He arranged for direct flights to Niue by Polynesian Airlines to help tourism grow. He also worked to get funding from the European Union for renewable energy projects. He also negotiated for more help from New Zealand.
In January 2004, Vivian's wife, Leone Tofuola Vivian, passed away after a long illness. While Vivian was still in Auckland, Niue was hit by Cyclone Heta. The cyclone destroyed the capital city, Alofi, and the island's only hospital. The government faced criticism for how it handled the rebuilding efforts, especially how aid was given out and how new houses were assigned.
He was re-elected without opposition in the 2005 election and was re-elected Premier. He defeated O'Love Jacobsen by 17 votes to 3. His 2005 budget reduced government spending. In December 2005, a government report that was leaked showed that Niue was almost out of money. Another report in 2006 showed more financial problems and that money meant for cyclone aid had been used to support the government's accounts.
New Zealand provided money to help Niue, but Vivian's government had to cut public services and start charging for some services to balance the budget. Vivian was accused of not managing the economy well, but he survived a vote of confidence. The financial problems were temporarily solved with $750,000 obtained during an official visit to China. A plan to introduce a goods and services tax was not approved by the Assembly.
He was re-elected without opposition to Parliament in the 2008 elections. However, he lost the Premiership to Toke Talagi, who won fourteen votes to Vivian's five, with one person not voting.
Later Life and Recognition
In the 2017 general election, Young Vivian lost his seat for Hakupu to Michael Jackson. In the 2020 general election, Vivian tried to be elected for one of the six common roll seats, but he was not successful.
In December 2021, Vivian was flown by air ambulance from Niue to New Zealand to receive medical treatment.
Honours and Awards
At the first 2020 Niue National Awards in 2020, Young Vivian received the Niue Distinguished Service Cross. He was also appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2023 New Year Honours. This award was given to him for his important services to Niue.
See also
In Spanish: Young Vivian para niños
