Summary
Sitiveni Halapua (13 February 1949 – 29 January 2023) was a Tongan politician and Member of the Tongan Parliament. He was a deputy leader of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.[1][2]
Sitiveni Halapua | |
|---|---|
 Halapua in 2013 | |
| Member of Parliament for Tongatapu 3 | |
| In office 26 November 2010 – 27 November 2014 | |
| Preceded by | none (constituency established) |
| Succeeded by | Siaosi Sovaleni |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 February 1949 |
| Died | 29 January 2023 (aged 73) |
| Political party | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands |
Academic career edit
Halapua had a PhD in economics from the University of Kent in England.[3] Between 1981 and 1988 he lectured in economics at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. He later worked as Director of the Pacific Islands Development Programme at the East-West Center in Hawaii.[3] While working at the East-West Center he developed a conflict-resolution system based on the Polynesian practice of Talanoa, which he has applied in the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Tonga.[4]
In November 2005 he was appointed to the National Committee for Political Reform, which aimed at producing a plan for the democratic reform of Tonga.[4] In October 2006 the Commission recommended a fully elected parliament.[5] He subsequently blamed Prime Minister Feleti Sevele's "hijacking" of the report for the 2006 Nuku'alofa riots.[6]
Political career edit
Halapua was elected to Parliament at the 2010 elections, as MP for Tongatapu 3. Following the elections, he was suggested as a candidate for Prime Minister.[7]
In July 2014 Halapua was dumped as a Democratic Party candidate.[8] He subsequently announced he would campaign as an independent in the 2014 election,[9] but ultimately chose not to stand. He later contested the 2017 election.[10] He was unsuccessful.
References edit
- ^ "Sitiveni Halapua" Archived 17 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Parliament of Tonga
- ^ "Dr Sitiveni Halapua passed away in New Zealand". Matangi Tonga. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Sitiveni Halapua". East-West Center. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ a b "'TALANOA' PEACEMAKER HALAPUA SEEKS TONGA UNITY". Pacific Islands Report. 26 December 2005. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ "Tonga 'should have elected MPs'". BBC. 6 October 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ "Tonga's Prime Minister is responsible!". TNews. 1 December 2006. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ Audrey Young (27 November 2010). "Commoner MPs' views key to choosing new PM". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ "Tonga Democratic Party dumps four MPs". RNZ. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ "Tongan independent MP focuses on development". RNZ. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
- ^ "Halapua back in Tongan politics". RNZ. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2020.