Vavaʻu 14

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Vavaʻu 14
Constituency
for the Legislative Assembly of Tonga
RegionVavaʻu
Current constituency
Created2010
Number of members1
PartyDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Member(s)Saia Piukala

Vavaʻu 14 is an electoral constituency for the Legislative Assembly in the Kingdom of Tonga. It was established for the November 2010 general election, when the multi-seat regional constituencies for People's Representatives were replaced by single-seat constituencies, electing one representative via the first past the post electoral system. Located in the Vavaʻu island group, it encompasses the villages of Pangaimotu, ‘Utulei, ‘Utungake, Talihau, Taoa, Vaimalo, Tefisi, Tu'anuku, Longomapu, Taunga, Kapa, ‘Otea, Falevai, Matamaka, Nuapapu, Lape, Ovaka, Hunga, Holeva, Koloa, Olo'ua, Ofu, and Okoa. It is one of three constituencies in Vavaʻu. (The number 14 does not mean that it is the fourteenth in Vavaʻu, but in the country.)[1]

Its first ever representative was Lisiate ‘Akolo, elected MP for the first time, though he was appointed Minister for Labour, Commerce and Industries, from outside Parliament, by Prime Minister Feleti Sevele in 2006, and thus sat in Parliament ex officio from 2006 to 2010. He stood in the 2010 general election as an independent candidate, against one of the incumbent MPs for the heretofore two-seat constituency of Vavaʻu, ‘Etuate Lavulavu, also an independent. ‘Akolo was elected, with a 5.3% lead over Lavulavu. He remained Minister for Labour.[2][3][4][5] he lost the seat to Saia Piukala in 2014, who has held it ever since.

Members of Parliament[edit]

Election Member Party
2010 Lisiate ‘Akolo independent
2014 Saia Piukala independent
2017
2021

Election results[edit]

2010[edit]

Tongan general election, 2010: Vavaʻu 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Lisiate ‘Akolo 665 28.0
Independent ‘Etuate Lavulavu 540 22.7
(unknown) Paula Piveni Piukala 502 21.1
(unknown) Tu‘amelie He Lotu Faaitu‘a Kemoe‘atu 380 16.0
(unknown) Peauafi Pifeleti 209 8.8
(unknown) Siale Fifita 51 2.1
(unknown) Pita Vi Hala‘api‘api 32 1.3
Majority 125 5.3 n/a
independent (politician) win (new seat)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Vavaʻu 14", Parliament of Tonga
  2. ^ "“Demo Party” win landslide victory in first democratic government", Taimi Media Network, 1 december 2010
  3. ^ Biography of Lisiate ‘Akolo Archived 2011-11-30 at the Wayback Machine on the website of the Tongan Parliament
  4. ^ "Independents to form a coalition", Taimi Media Network, 2 October 2010
  5. ^ "First meeting of Tonga's new Cabinet", Matangi Tonga, January 5, 2011