Fatafehi Fakafanua Explained

Lord Fakafanua
Office:Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Term Start:December 2017
Predecessor:Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō
Primeminister:ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Semisi Sika
Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
Siaosi Sovaleni
Term Start1:19 July 2012
Term End1:29 December 2014
Primeminister1:Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō
Predecessor1:Lord Lasike
Successor1:Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō
Constituency Mp5:Ha‘apai (noble)
Term Start5:16 November 2017
Predecessor5:Lord Tuʻihaʻateiho
Term Start6:23 April 2008
Term End6:26 November 2014
Successor6:Havea Tu‘iha‘angana
Birth Place:20 March 1985
Party:none (Nobles' Representative)
Parents:Hon. Dr Kinikinilau Tūtoatasi Fakafānua
Princess Sinaitakala 'Ofeina-'e-he-Langi Fakafānua
Spouse:Krystal Fane Kite

Fatafehi Fakafānua, known before ascending to his title as Fatafehi Kinikinilau Lolomana‘ia Fakafānua (born 20 March 1985), is a Tongan politician, Lord of the Realm and the Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly. He is the 8th Lord Fakafānua.[1]

Biography

He is the son of late Kinikinilau Tūtoatasi, 7th Lord Fakafānua and estate holder of Ma'ufanga, and Princess Sinaitakala 'Ofeina-'e-he-Langi Fakafānua. He has a brother, Fakaola mei Langi ʻItafuaʻatonga Tūtoatasi Fakafānua and a sister, the Crown Princess of Tonga, Sinaitakala Tu'imatamoana 'i Fanakavakilangi Fakafānua.[2]

Through his mother, he is a member of the Tongan royal family and, of her own right, in line to the country's throne.

He was bestowed with the title Fakafānua, one of the thirty-three hereditary titles of the Tongan nobility, in April 2006.[3] The title is attached to the estates of Ma'ufanga (on Tongatapu), Nga'akau (on Vava'u) and Faleloa (on Ha'apai), and enables its holder to be elected to the Legislative Assembly as a Representative of the Nobility. During the 2008 by-election he was elected as a representative for Ha'apai, the youngest member ever of the Tongan Parliament. He was re-elected in the November 2010 general election.[4]

On 19 July 2012 he was elected Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly following Lord Lasike's removal from office,[5] becoming Tonga's youngest ever Speaker.[6] As Speaker he held a "practice parliament" to encourage women to participate in politics.[7] He lost his seat in the 2014 election.[8]

He was elected again in the 2017 election[9] and re-elected Speaker.[10]

Following the 2021 election he was re-elected Speaker.[11]

Personal life

On 1 August 2008, King George Tupou V appointed Fakafānua Commander of the Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III.

On 15 October 2014 he married Krystal Fane Kite, daughter of Tonga's former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, then Ambassador to the United States, the late Sione Kite.

Honours

National honours

References


Notes and References

  1. http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/states/tonga/fakafanua.html Genealogy
  2. Web site: TONGAN NOBLE TUTOATASI LAID TO REST . Pacific Islands Report . 6 March 2006 . 16 December 2021.
  3. Web site: Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum . New Zealand House of Representatives . 2013 . 40 . 8 January 2022.
  4. http://www.parliament.gov.to/index.php/about-parliament/members/current-members/lords-representatives/176-lord-fakafanua "Lord Fakafānua"
  5. Web site: Tonga names new Speaker after Lord Lasike barred from Parliament . RNZ . 19 July 2012 . 16 December 2021.
  6. Web site: Meet Tonga’s Youngest Speaker Of the House . Fiji Sun . Maraia Vula . 13 August 2016 . 16 December 2021.
  7. Web site: Tonga looks to address gender imbalance in parliament . RNZ . 17 February 2014 . 16 December 2021.
  8. Web site: Tongan Voters Elect 12 New MPs . Pacific Islands Report . 28 November 2014 . 16 December 2021.
  9. Web site: Tongans back Pohiva's Democratic Party . RNZ . 17 November 2017 . 16 December 2021.
  10. Web site: New era in Tonga's parliamentary history about to unfold . RNZ . 18 February 2018 . 16 December 2021.
  11. Web site: School drop-outs, illegal drugs and health three major concerns for Tonga's new PM Designate . Matangi Tonga . 15 December 2021 . 16 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211215071139/https://matangitonga.to/2021/12/15/three-major-concerns-tonga-new-pm-designate . 15 December 2021.
  12. Web site: Royal orders presented at Palace . Matangi Tonga . 1 August 2008 . 2 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121030307/https://matangitonga.to/2008/08/01/royal-orders-presented-palace . 21 January 2021.