| Honorific Prefix: | The Honourable |
| Office: | 17th Prime Minister of Tonga |
| Term Start: | 8 October 2019 |
| Term End: | 27 December 2021 |
| Deputy: | Semisi Sika Sione Vuna Fa'otusia Lord Maʻafu |
| Predecessor: | Semisi Sika (acting) |
| Successor: | Siaosi Sovaleni |
| Office1: | Leader of the Tonga People's Party |
| Term Start1: | 20 September 2019 |
| Term End1: | 18 March 2023 |
| Predecessor1: | Party established |
| Office6: | Minister for Public Enterprises |
| Term Start6: | 10 October 2019 |
| Term End6: | 28 December 2021 |
| Primeminister6: | Himself |
| Successor6: | Poasi Tei |
| Office7: | Minister of Finance |
| Term Start7: | 4 January 2018 |
| Term End7: | 10 October 2019 |
| Primeminister7: | ʻAkilisi Pōhiva |
| Predecessor7: | Tevita Lavemaau |
| Successor7: | Tevita Lavemaau |
| Office8: | Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industries |
| Term Start8: | 30 December 2014 |
| Term End8: | 4 January 2018 |
| Successor8: | Tevita Tu'i Uata |
| Office9: | Minister for Revenue and Customs |
| Term Start9: | 6 March 2017 |
| Term End9: | September 2017 |
| Predecessor9: | Tevita Lavemaau |
| Successor9: | Mateni Tapueluelu |
| Office10: | Minister for Police, Prisons and Fire Services |
| Term Start10: | 30 December 2014 |
| Term End10: | 6 March 2017 |
| Successor10: | Mateni Tapueluelu |
| Constituency Mp15: | Tongatapu 10 |
| Parliament15: | Tongan |
| Term Start15: | 27 November 2014 |
| Term End15: | 18 March 2023 |
| Predecessor15: | Semisi Tapueluelu |
| Successor15: | Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata |
| Spouse: | Hena Tuʻiʻonetoa |
| Party: | Tonga People's Party |
| Birth Date: | 30 June 1951 |
| Birth Place: | Talafo’ou, Tonga |
| Death Place: | United States |
| Alma Mater: | Monash University Institute of Certified Management Accountants |
Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa (30 June 1951 – 18 March 2023) was a Tongan accountant and politician who served as the 17th Prime Minister of Tonga from 2019 to 2021.[1] Tu'i'onetoa succeeded Semisi Sika, who had served as acting prime minister, since the death of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva.[2]
Born in Talafo’ou on 30 June 1951,[3] Tu’i’onetoa graduated from Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand in 1982, and then the Monash University in 1993. He had a diploma in financial management and a master of business degree. He was also a certified management accountant.[4]
Tu’i’onetoa 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]
On 27 September 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 9 October 2019.[8] He announced his Cabinet appointments on 10 October.[9]
On 12 January 2021, Tu'i'onetoa survived a confidence vote in Parliament, by 13 votes to 9.[10]
Tuʻiʻonetoa was re-elected to parliament in the 2021 election,[11] and announced his candidacy for re-election as Prime Minister,[12] [13] but later withdrew as a contender to back ʻAisake Eke.[14] [15] He was succeeded as Prime Minister by Siaosi Sovaleni.[16] [17]
On 29 April 2022, the Supreme Court of Tonga declared his election void after finding he had bribed a women's group by offering them 50,000 Pa'anga.[18] [19] The conviction was stayed pending appeal on 26 May 2022.[20] On 9 June 2022 he was again found to have committed bribery in a second election petition.[21] [22] On 9 August 2022 the Court of Appeal overturned both petitions.[23] [24]
Tuʻiʻonetoa died on 18 March 2023 in the United States, at the age of 71 while visiting the country for medical reasons.[25] [26] [27]
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