Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa

Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa (born June 30, 1961[1]) is a Tongan accountant and politician serving as the current prime minister of Tonga since 2019.[2] Tu'i'onetoa succeeded Semisi Sika, who had served as acting prime minister, since the death of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva.[3]

The Honourable

Pōhiva Tu'i'onetoa
Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa in 2020
16th Prime Minister of Tonga
Assumed office
8 October 2019
MonarchTupou VI
DeputySemisi Sika (2019)
Sione Vuna Fa'otusia (2019-2020)
Preceded bySemisi Sika (Acting Prime Minister)
ʻAkilisi Pōhiva (Prime Minister)
Member of Parliament
for Tongatapu 10
Assumed office
27 November 2014
Preceded bySemisi Tapueluelu
Personal details
Born (1961-06-30) 30 June 1961
Talafo’ou, Tonga
Nationality Tongan
Political partyPeople’s Party
Alma materMonash University
Institute of Certified Management Accountants

Born in Talafo’ou, Tu’i’onetoa graduated from Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand in 1982, and then the Monash University in 1993. He has a diploma in financial management and a master of business degree. He is also a certified management accountant.[4]

Career

He 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.[5] In March 2017 he was appointed Minister of Revenue and Customs,[6] replacing Tevita Lavemaau. He held that position until January 2018, when he was appointed Minister of Finance and National Planning.[7]

Prime Minister of Tonga

On September 27, 2019, Tu’i’onetoa was elected prime minister by fifteen votes against eight for Semisi Sika, who served as acting prime minister.[8] It was officially announced by King Tupou VI on October 9, 2019.[8] He announced his Cabinet appointments on October 10.[9]

On 12 January 2021 Tu'i'onetoa survived a confidence vote in Parliament, by 13 votes to 9.[10]

References
  1. "Dr. Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa". www.parliament.gov.to. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  2. "Tonga MPs choose Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa as Prime Minister". TVNZ. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
  3. News, Kaniva. "Tonga's caretaker PM Pōhiva sacks deputy and Finance Minister | Asia Pacific Report". Retrieved 2019-10-25.
  4. ""The Appointment of Hon. Dr. Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa as the New Prime Minister of Tonga"". Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  5. "Tonga leader names one noble in Cabinet". RNZ. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  6. "Tonga Finance Minister resigns". RNZ. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  7. "Biography". Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  8. "Parliament elects Dr Pōhiva Tu'i'onetoa as new PM". Parliament elects Dr Pōhiva Tu‘i‘onetoa as new PM. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  9. ""Prime Minister Announces New Cabinet Ministers"". Government of Tonga. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  10. "Tonga's PM survives motion of no confidence". RNZ. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
Political offices
Preceded by
Semisi Sika		 Prime Minister of Tonga
2019–present		 Incumbent
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