O'Love Jacobsen

O'Love Jacobsen
High Commissioner of Niue to New Zealand
Assumed office
March 2011
Preceded by Sisilia Talagi
Minister of Health,
Minister of Public Works,
Minister of Women’s Affairs,
Minister in charge of the Niue Power Corporation
In office
June 2008 – March 2011
Preceded by ?
Succeeded by ?
Member of the Niuean Parliament
for no constituency (common roll)
In office
? – March 2011
Personal details
Political party none

Tauveve O’Love Jacobsen is a Niuean politician and diplomat. She is currently Niue's High Commissioner to New Zealand, after serving as a member of the Niue Assembly (national Parliament)[1][2] and a minister in Toke Talagi's government.[3] She was previously a long-standing leading figure in the informal parliamentary Opposition to Young Vivian's government. She was, from 2008 to 2011, Minister of Health, Minister of Public Works, Minister of Women’s Affairs, and Minister in charge of the Niue Power Corporation.[4] She had previously been Minister of Education, Health, Environment, Training and Development.[5] Additionally, Jacobsen is a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association,[6] and Patroness of the Niuean Volleyball Association.[7]

Following the 1999 general election, she was a candidate for the post of Premier (head of government), who is selected by the national Assembly. She lost to Sani Lakatani, of the Niue People's Party, by six votes to fourteen.[8]

Following the 2005 general election, Jacobsen was Young Vivian's only opponent contending for the position of Premier. She was defeated by three votes to seventeen.[9][10] Vivian thanked her for competing against him:

"That the selection was contested, thanks to Ekepule [member of the Assembly] O’love Jacobsen, confirms our determination under the Westminster system of government to adhere and uphold one of the fundamental principles of democracy."[11]

In February 2008, Jacobsen stated that landowners had been bullied into authorising the building of a hotel and golf course on their land, a project supported by the government and funded by Chinese investors. Premier Young Vivian rejected the allegation.[12]

In the lead-up to the 2008 general election, which saw her successfully retain her seat in the Assembly[1] (as a common roll representative,[13] Jacobsen was critical of the fact that several members of the Assembly would be re-elected unopposed. She accused Vivian of discouraging people from taking part in the election as Opposition candidates, and argued that a democracy requires voters being able to choose between several candidates in each constituency.

"If the principle of democracy is going to be upheld, then it is very important that people do need to go to the polls and not have them unopposed and become duly elected."[14]

Vivian rejected Jacobsen's criticism, and argued in return that candidates were chosen within the villages, in traditional ways. With such a practice, he said, "there is no conflict, there’s peace and togetherness."[15] A government news publication stated with thinly veiled criticism that Jacobsen "saw herself as a self-appointed backbench champion of the masses".[2]

Following the election, Jacobsen supported Toke Talagi's candidacy to prime ministership, against Vivian,[1] and was appointed to Talagi's small Cabinet.[16]

In March 2011, she resigned from government and from the Assembly to be appointed Niue's High Commissioner to New Zealand.[17][18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Longtime Niue MP says election turnover sign of mood for a change". Radio New Zealand International. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  2. 1 2 Editorial, Niue Ki Mua (Niue government news publication), May 2008
  3. ↑ "Niue sees need to call on public to curb power use". Radio New Zealand International. 1 July 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  4. ↑ Website of the government of Niue
  5. ↑ "Human Rights and Poverty Eradication: A Talisman for the Commonwealth", Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
  6. ↑ Official website of the Governor-General of Australia
  7. ↑ "2004 Volleyball Season Prize-giving night", Niue National Olympic Committee, 11 September 2005
  8. ↑ Rulers.org
  9. ↑ Niue government website, 14 April 2005
  10. ↑ "NIUE: Young Vivian Re-elected As Premier", Pacific Magazine, 12 May 2005
  11. ↑ "Niue Fono Ekepule retains Premier and Speaker", Niue government press release, 13 April 2005
  12. ↑ "Niue hotel project labelled pre-Forum rush job". Radio New Zealand International. 5 February 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  13. ↑ "Members of the Niue Fono Ekepule", Parliament of Niue
  14. ↑ "Concern in Niue about lack of contest in June polls". Radio New Zealand International. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  15. ↑ "Niue caretaker Premier not comfortable with NZ - style democracy", Radio New Zealand International, 29 May 2008
  16. ↑ "Niue sees need to call on public to curb power use", Radio New Zealand International, 1 July 2008
  17. ↑ "Veteran Niue politician predicts little change in assembly following election". Radio New Zealand International. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  18. ↑ "Niue appoints veteran woman politician as Wellington High Commissioner". Radio New Zealand International. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-10.


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