Mapa Faletau receives the matapule title 'Akau'ola [1]
Friday, January 20, 2006 - 16:45. Updated on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 - 20:12.
The heir to the 'Akau'ola title, 'Ahovaleamoemapa Faletau (38) on January 17 officially became the matapule 'Akau'ola at a ceremony at his home on the island of Taunga in Vava'u.
He inherited the title 'Akau'ola from his father the late Governor of Vava'u, Hon. 'Akau'ola, who died suddenly on October 6. Mapa's entitlement was effective from October 13, 2005.
Mapa who stayed in Taunga with his family over the Christmas holidays said that the ceremony was carried out at the local Methodist Church on the island by Sateki ...Ahio the Acting Secretary for the Palace Office who went there specially to officiate the occasion.
The next day January 18, his contract with the Ministry of Civil Aviation as a Head of Department was terminated.
With regards to a rumor that he had resigned from his post as the Secretary of Civil Aviation, the new 'Akau'ola said that he had sought redundancy from the Minister of Civil Aviation, the Prime Minister HRH Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata in December 2005 and "it was approved".
He said he would return to Tongatapu early next week to bring his traditional homage of fish to present to the Prince Regent, Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata. He said that the top priority for him now is to take care of the title bestowed upon him, "to look after the people and to learn how to fish".