Vava'u electoral boundaries to change [1]
Friday, November 29, 2013 - 18:21
Tonga’s Electoral Boundaries Commission is proposing to alter the electoral boundaries of two Vava'u constituencies by moving 'Utui village from Vava'u #15 to Vava'u #16.
The Commission was established in 2010 with a responsibility to determine, define and establish the boundaries of electoral constituencies.
The Commission decided to re-draw the boundaries of the Vava'u constituencies 15 and 16 following the release by government in September 2013 of the 2011 Census, which showed that the Vava'u 16 constituency breached the 10% tolerance rate by -14.3%. in order to make the adjustment 'Utui Village has been moved from Vava'u Constituency No.15 to Vava'u Constituency No.16.
The Vava'u Constituency No. 15 contains the township of Neiafu, the administrative centre, main seaport, and the commercial center for the Vava'u group of islands. It also includes Fungamisi, Falaleu, Makave and Toula.
The Vava'u Constituency No. 16 contains Leimatu'a, Ha'alaufuli, Ta'anea, Ha'akio, Houma, Mangia, 'Utui, Mataika, Feletoa, Leimatu'a, Tu'anekivale , Holonga and 'Utui. It also includes the uninhabited islands of Matu'anua, Motu Lekaleka and Pousini.
Tonga is divided into 17 Electoral Constituencies, with 10 in Tongatapu, three in Vava'u, two in Ha'apai and one each for 'Eua, and the two Niuas, Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou.
Tonga will hold its second General Election under its new system of government in November 2014.