Tonga is to hold its sixth parliamentary by-election this session on August 23 when the Tongatapu nobles will choose one of their number to fill the seat vacated by the late Prince Tu'’ipelehake.

The by-election will be the fourth by Tongan nobles, while the People have had two by-elections, since the General Election in March 2005.

The first nobles' by-election was on May 3, 2005, to elect a replacement of Nobles Tu'ivakano and Nuku, who were appointed as ministers. Their seats were taken over by Nobles 'Ahome'e and Lasike.

The second nobles' by-election was on July 15, 2005, to fill the seat of Vaha'i who died in New Zealand, and Prince Tu'ipelehake entered parliament in his Tongatapu No. 1 Nobles' Representative seat.

The third nobles' by-election was on March 30 this year, to elect two new noble's representatives. Noble Luani took the seat for Vava'u, vacated by Noble Veikune, the Speaker of the House, who was found guilty by the Supreme Court on criminal charges. The newly-appointed heir to Vaha'i replaced 'Ahome'e who died suddenly in the USA.

Meanwhile, the People have had two by-elections, first following the General Election to elect the replacements of Dr Feleti Sevele and Sione Peauafi Haukinima who were appointed as Cabinet Ministers, and the second by-election by the people of Ha'apai to elect a replacement of Fineasi Funaki who was appointed as the new Minister for Tourism.

Pita Vuki, the Election Supervisor, said that holding a by-election is an expensive exercise, particularly with the People's by-election, which he estimated to cost about $20,000 an election, but he said the nobles' was cheaper because there are only a few of them. Tonga has 33 noble titles and there are nine seats reserved in parliament for them.

Pita said that the by-election will be held at the Palace Office, Nuku'.’alofa, from 10am-12pm on Wednesday August 23, and the result will be announced in the afternoon.