Obituary

A Tongan life peer, Taniela Hoko’ila Tufui (Dan) formerly Lord Tufui of Talaheu, died on April 19 at the age of 83, in Ballarat, Australia.

A long serving Chief Secretary to the Government of Tonga and Secretary to Cabinet, Dan Tufui was appointed by the Late King George Tupou V as a Privy Councillor in 2008, becoming a life peer and one of the first four Law Lords who formed a new judicial committee of the Privy Council.

The Law Lords were expected to advise the late King on the exercise of his judicial powers, and on matters relating to appointments, clemency, Royal Commissions and terms and conditions of the Judiciary and to also investigate complaints against judges.

Tufui, a barrister, was the first Tongan to head the Law Department, with his appointment as Solicitor General of Tonga from 1965 to 1972. Later, he became Chief Secretary and Secretary to the Tongan Cabinet, a post he held for numerous years until his retirement from the Tonga Civil Service in 2001.

He was chairman of the Higher Salaries Review Committee but resigned in 2003 for health reasons.

Tufui served as a member of the late Prince Tu’ipelehake’s National Committee for Political Reform, approved by parliament in 2004.

He was appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of Tonga, briefly, in 2006.

During his career, Tufui was respected as diplomat in the region, sitting on several regional boards and organisations, and was for a time the chairman of the Pacific Forum Line.

In the 1980’s he led trade missions to New Zealand to attract businesses and manufacturers to Tonga.

In the1970's Tufui opposed the New Zealand seamens’ union when it insisted that trade between the islands and New Zealand must be carried on New Zealand manned ships.

Tufui was invested with the Order of Queen Salote Tupou III, Grand Cross, by Tupou V in 2008.

He passed away peacefully at Kelaston, Ballerat on Tuesday, and his funeral will be held on Thursday April 28, (Peter Tobin Funerals, Ballarat).

Dan Tufui is survived by his second wife, Dr Kerry James Tufui.