Vava'u 14 polling underway [1]
Thursday, March 28, 2024 - 16:31
By Katalina Siasau and Tupou Vaipulu Jr.
The polls have closed at 4:00pm in today's By-election for the Vava'u Constituency no. 14 held in Tongatapu and Vava'u, to fill the seat vacated by Dr. Saia Piukala.
The former Minister of Health, resigned on 26 January, to take up new role as the WHO Regional Director for Western Pacific.
There are 22 polling places in Vava'u and only one in Tongatapu for the 3303 registered electors of Vava'u 14.
The four candidates contesting the seat for the Vava’u no. 14 People's Representative to the Tonga Legislative Assembly are:
- Viliami Tinitali Piukala of Pangaimotu
- Sione Fataua Halatanu of Hunga
- Mo’ale ‘Otunuku of Longomapu
- Matini Fatanitavake Ma’afu 'o Veikune Tu’itonga Veikune of Longomapu
The polls opened at 9:00am and closed at 4:00pm.
Electoral Commissioner and Supervisor of Elections, Pita Vuki told Matangi Tonga after the polls close at 4pm the count will begin. He said the result would be released after vote counting, however, he cannot confirm a time when the result would be released.
The Vava'u 14 Constituency includes the villages of Pangaimotu, ‘Utulei, ‘Utungake, Talihau, Taoa, Vaimalo, Tefisi, Tu'anuku, Longomapu, Taunga, Kapa, ‘Otea, Falevai, Matamaka, Nuapapu, Lape, Ovaka, Hunga, Holeva, Koloa, Olo'ua, Ofu, and Okoa.