Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi

Maʻafu
Siosaia Lausiʻi
Minister for Lands, Survey, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 January 2011
Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakanō
Preceded by Lord Tuita (Lands, Survey & Natural Resources)
Himself (Environment and Climate Change)
Minister for the Environment and Climate Change
In office
July 2009 – 4 January 2011
Prime Minister Feleti Sevele
Succeeded by Himself
Member of Parliament
for Tongatapu
Incumbent
Assumed office
23 April 2008
Personal details
Born 1955
Political party none (Nobles' Representative)

Siosaia Lausiʻi, but since his installation on 30 Oct 1997 with the noble title Maʻafu (shortened for Maʻafu Tukuʻiʻaulahi, meaning Maʻafu put in the strong current, after a happening with an ancestor around 1820), better known as Lord Maʻafu, is a Tongan politician, former military officer, and member of the Tongan nobility.

He enrolled in the Tonga Defence Services on 3 March 1975, and was commissioned "the same year to become Platoon Commander of the Tonga Royal Guards". He served as a commissioned officer, rising to the rank of Commanding Officer of Land Force in 2000, before serving as Private Secretary to King Taufaʻahau Tupou IV from 2001 to 2006.[1][2]

He went into politics in 2008, elected to the Legislative Assembly as a Nobles' Representative for Tongatapu, receiving ten votes from fellow electors of the nobility in the general election in April.[3] In July 2009, he was appointed Minister for the Environment and Climate Change in Prime Minister Feleti Sevele's Cabinet.[4][5]

He retained his seat in the November 2010 general election, again receiving ten votes.[6] He was then appointed Minister for Lands, Survey, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change in Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakanō's Cabinet;[7] legislation enacted in 2010 prescribed that only a Nobles' Representative could be appointed Minister for Lands.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Lord Ma'afu - Tonga's Lands & Environment Minister", Tongan government portal, 16 January 2011
  2. ↑ Biography on the website of the Parliament of Tonga and another
  3. ↑ "Former Speaker Tu'iha'angana loses seat in Nobles election", Matangi Tonga, April 28, 2008
  4. ↑ Biography on the website of the Parliament of Tonga
  5. ↑ "Only three nobles chosen in 'able' new Tongan cabinet", Pacific Media Centre, January 3, 2011
  6. ↑ "Vaea and Tu'ilakepa to enter House in Nobles seats", Matangi Tonga, November 25, 2010
  7. ↑ "First meeting of Tonga's new Cabinet", Matangi Tonga, January 5, 2011
  8. ↑ "Crown Prince not elected as Noble Representative", Taimi Media Network, December 1, 2010