A prominent scholar and Tongan politician Dr Sitiveni Halapua (73) has passed away in New Zealand on 29 January. 

This was announced in Parliament by the Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku at the start of this morning’s session, 6 February.

The House observed one minute of silence in respect of the former Tongatapu 3 People's Representative.

His funeral to be held at Māngere, in New Zealand on 14 February 2023

Academic to politics 

Dr Halapua first stood for Parliament in November 2010, in Tonga’s first general election under a more democratic electoral system.

He was elected as the People’s Representative for Tongatapu Constituency No. 3. However, he decided not to stand for re-election in the November 2014 General Election.

He has served as a board member and director on the Transport Sector Public Enterprise, and was a former Chairman of the Board of Tonga Power Ltd., former Chairman of the Tonga Water Board and former Chaiman and member of the Harbour Board Authority

Dr Halapua had a life long interest in education. He was chairman of St Andrew's School Board in 2016, and for a number of years.

Prior to his parliamentary career in 2005, he was the vice chairman of the National Committee for Political Reform (NCPR), a parliamentary committee which took the first steps to map out a direction for political reform.

He held a PhD in economics from the University of Kent in England and was a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji in the 1980s.

He then took up his post as Director of the Pacific Island Development Program in the East-West Centre in Hawaii for over two decades.

The late Dr Halapua was recently the CEO of the Talanoa and Development Project based in New Zealand.

He is survived by his wife Janet Halapua, and his three children, Peau, Langakali and Lisala Halapua.

Funeral

His family told Matangi Tonga, that the funeral will be held at Te Karaiti Te Pou Herenga Waka, 35A Cape Road, Māngere, Auckland, New Zealand, February 14 2023, Gathering at 11:00 am; Service at noon.

They said he passed away peacefully at his home in Auckland, New Zealand, January 29 2023. “He appreciated the care of his doctors and family over the years, which allowed him continue his work in Tonga, and complete his book, The Art of Talanoa, shortly before his death.”

“Oku 'oatu ai 'a e tala ni mo e kole fakamolemole lahi mei he famili ki he fonua, siasi, kaunga ngaue, famili mo e maheni 'o e pekia, ko e ki'i motu'a ta'e'iloa mei motu mama'o.

“He 'ikai toe fai ha me'a 'i Tonga ni he 'oku fai 'a e folau ki Aotearoa ke fakahekeheka e folau 'a e pekia. Tuku pē ke fai'aki pē e ouau lotu fakamavae 'e fakahoko he 'aho 14 'o Fepueli ni, 'i he falelotu Te Karaiti Te Pou Herenga Waka, 35A Cape Road, Māngere, Auckland, New Zealand.

“'Oku hounga'ia e famili ke 'oatu 'a e fakaafe ke tau kaunga lotu fakamavae fakataha mo e pekia ke fakamahu'inga'i 'ene mo'ui, he kuo ne ta'ata'alo mai ki he fononga'anga ni.”

See also Matangi Tonga:

“We must improve education, not destroy it” [2]

Dr Sitiveni Halapua: why Tonga should scrap constituency voting [3]