From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 1, March 2000.

When the King of Tonga appointed Prince ‘Ulukālala Lavaka Ata as Prime Minister on January 3, he bestowed on his youngest son, executive power that is second only to his own.

Prince ‘Ulukala Lavaka Ata, 41, the Prime Minister, is also the Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Marine, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Politically, the three hereditary titles that the King has given his son, ‘Ulukālala, Lavaka and Ata, are powerful titles. History tells us that all were traditionally held by strong fighting men, who fought against each other. The Ha‘a Ngata and the Ha‘a Havea were poles apart. Both ‘Ulukalala and Ata are Ha‘a Ngata, but Lavaka is Ha‘a Havea. By endowing two different Ha‘a titles on Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata has nullified the feuds between the two Ha‘as. This means that the prince has a strong base in Vava‘u, which was ‘Ulukalala’s territory, in Central Tongatapu with Lavaka, and Ata in Western Tongatapu.

Like other Tongan leaders the prince has been groomed for the job.

Before he pursued his university studies, Prince Lavaka was trained as a soldier and has said that that is what he wanted to be, “a soldier to help the people.” Where Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata has been placed now must be like a dream come true to fulfill that goal.

Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata holds two Masters degrees. He graduated with an International Relations Master from the University of Bond, Australia last year, and was understood to be thinking of returning to university to complete a Doctoral degree when he was made Prime Minister.