Former PM, Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa dies in US [1]
Monday, March 20, 2023 - 16:04. Updated on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 - 19:05.
The death of a former Prime Minister of Tonga and the current Tongatapu 10 People’s Representative to the Tonga Legislative Assembly, Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa (71), was confirmed today. He passed away yesterday, in the United States, where he had gone for medical reasons.
A spokesperson from his Tongatapu 10 Constituency office confirmed his passing this morning. Hon. Tu'i'onetoa had stayed in the United States for medical reasons, after travelling there in late 2022.
No other details was released at this stage. His funeral details will be confirmed later.
From Talafo'ou, Tongatapu, he is survived by his wife Hena and children.
Parliament
On 18 January 2023, Parliament's Office stated that the MP was in the US for medical reasons. He had initially applied for leave of absence of three-months, which was approved. He sought and was granted an additional three-months leave in order to compete his medicals.
Career
Dr Tu'i'onetoa was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2014 General Election. He was re-elected in 2017 and 2021 General Elections.
In September 2019, he won the secret ballot for the Prime Ministership and was appointed by the King, a month later. He served as PM from 2019-2021.
On 12 January 2021, he continued in office, after the Legislative Assembly rejected a motion for a Vote of No Confidence in him as Prime Minister, with a vote 13-9.
A former Minister of Finance and Auditor General, he studied at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand in 1982. He received a Graduate Diploma in Financial Management from Monash University, Australia in 1993, before attaining a Master of Business Accounting (MBA), from the same University in 1994.
He received his Fellow Chartered Accountant from the Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountant of New Zealand in 1999 and a certified Management Accountant from the Institute of Certified Management Accountants in Australia in 1997.
He first joined the Tonga civil service in January, 1979 and among his postings, served as Auditor General from 1983-2014, before being elected to parliament in the 2014. He also held various Ministerial portoflios, including Minister of Finance and National Planning in 2018.
He was a member and representative at the International Congresses of International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions. He was also a Doctor of Christian Ministry, from the Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary of Tacoma, Washington, USA.
He was elected president of the Tonga Rugby Union in 2021.
Dr Tu'i'onetoa is the third Member of Parliament to die while in office during the last 9 months, with the loss of MPs Viliami Hingano in June 2022 and Hon. Semisi Fakahau in October 2022.