Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu

The Honourable Lord Tuʻiʻafitu
Tu’i’afitu in 2013
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
In office 28 December 2021 – 10 December 2024
Prime Minister	Siaosi Sovaleni
Preceded by	Lord Maʻafu
Minister for Health
In office 5 July 2012 – 27 November 2014
Leader	Lord Tuʻivakano
Preceded by	‘Uliti Uata
Succeeded by	Saia Piukala
Member of Parliament for Vavaʻu Nobles' constituency
Incumbent
Assumed office 25 November 2010
Personal details
Born	(1962-10-03) October 3, 1962 (age 62)
Political party	none (Nobles' Representative)

Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu, styled Lord Tuʻiʻafitu (born October 3, 1962^[1]) is a Tongan noble, clergyman, politician and Cabinet Minister.^[2]

Tuʻiʻafitu has a BDiv degree from Siaʻatoutai Theological College and two MA degrees, in Political Science and in Public Policy, both from the Australian National University.^[3]

Tuʻiʻafitu began his career in national politics when he was elected to Parliament as Noble's Representative for Vavaʻu in the November 2010 general election.^[4] He was appointed Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Assembly. On 5 July 2012, he was appointed Minister for Health in Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakano's Cabinet, following ‘Uliti Uata's resignation to join the Opposition.^[5]

On 28 December 2021 he was appointed to the Cabinet of Siaosi Sovaleni as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.^[6] He was the only noble initially appointed to Sovaleni's Cabinet.^[7] Following the resignation of Sovaleni as Prime Minister in December 2024, he resigned from Cabinet.^[8]

Honours

National honours

• Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III, Commander (31 July 2008).^[9]

References

1. Official biography Archived 2011-02-03 at the Wayback Machine on the website of the Parliament of Tonga
2. Official biography Archived 2011-02-03 at the Wayback Machine on the website of the Parliament of Tonga
3. "Lord Tuʻiʻafitu" Archived 2012-03-17 at the Wayback Machine, Parliament of Tonga
4. Official biography Archived 2011-02-03 at the Wayback Machine on the website of the Parliament of Tonga
5. "PM's new Cabinet short of ministers", Matangi Tonga, 9 July 2012
6. "PM names new government". Matangi Tonga. 29 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
7. "Tonga's PM names new government". RNZ. 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
8. "More nobles resign from Tonga's Cabinet". RNZ. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
9. "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.