Lord Fusitu’a has been re-elected, in absentia, as the Nobles' representative of Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou after a by-election was held at the Palace Office yesterday morning, 31 August.

The three Niuas nobles voted among themselves.

The Electoral Commissioner, Pita Vuki said Lord Fusitu’a won the seat receiving two votes while Lord Tangipa received one.

Only nobles with estates in the two islands groups are eligible to vote in the by-election. The three Nobles for the Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou electoral district are Lord Fotofili, Lord Fusitu'a and Lord Tangipa.

Earlier this month, Lord Fusitu’a lost his seat in parliament after being absent from the Legislative Assembly for more than 12 consecutive calendar months. The seat was declared vacant on 6 August and a Writ for election of a successor was issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Lord Fakafanua.

Lord Fusitu'a had suffered from failing health and was evacuated to Auckland by a special flight on Sunday 4 August 2019, after collapsing in Tonga. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and High Dependency Unit at Middlemore Hospital, where he said he underwent five surgeries. 

He remains in New Zealand following his treatment.