Lupeti Finau Explained

Lupeti Finau
Office1:Member of the Legislative Assembly
Term1:1978–1979
Successor1:Tomiteau Finau
Constituency1:Tongatapu
Death Date:11 March 1979

Lupeti Finau (died 11 March 1979) was a Tongan civil servant and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1978 until his death the following year.

Biography

Finau was one of the children of politician Molitoni Finau. He won a government scholarship to study at Newington College in Sydney,[1] joining the school in 1933. Like his father, he excelled at sport, representing the school in athletics, cricket and rugby,[2] and winning the school's 120 yard hurdles, high jump and shot put competitions in 1936.[3]

After returning to Tonga he joined the civil service, rising to become Taxation Commissioner,[4] and later Deputy Commissioner of the Inland Revenue. He was also involved in rugby, coaching the Hihifo team to victory in the Hellaby Shield in 1951,[5] and later becoming president of the Tonga Rugby Union.[6]

He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 1978 elections,[7] but died in March 1979. His seat in the legislature was taken by his brother Tomiteau.[8]

Notes and References

  1. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-311023702/view?sectionId=nla.obj-328262547&partId=nla.obj-311067437#page/n45/mode/1up Cultured Boys From Tongan College Tour Australian In Choir.
  2. https://newsletter.newington.nsw.edu.au/alumni/files/2016/06/Tonga-2016-Tour-Booklet.pdf Background information on Tupou College
  3. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-312527342/view?sectionId=nla.obj-336464292&partId=nla.obj-312552350#page/n41/mode/1up Lubeti Finau
  4. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-324583019/view?sectionId=nla.obj-333309538&partId=nla.obj-324589783#page/n28/mode/1up Old Boy
  5. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-318462303/view?sectionId=nla.obj-331028930&partId=nla.obj-318581977#page/n50/mode/1up Tonga's Football Champions
  6. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-332066098/view?sectionId=nla.obj-337455684&partId=nla.obj-332090572#page/n52/mode/1up Tonga will play Rugby
  7. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-335696937/view?sectionId=nla.obj-340847343&partId=nla.obj-335767998#page/n21/mode/1up People
  8. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-334974857/view?sectionId=nla.obj-338929776&partId=nla.obj-335104679#page/n56/mode/1up Tomiteau Finau