Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi

Siosaʻia Lausiʻi,[1] but since his installation on 30 Oct 1997 with the noble title 10th 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 (of Vaini), is a Tongan politician, former military officer, and member of the Tongan nobility.

Maʻafu

Siosaʻia Lausiʻi
Minister for Lands, Survey, Natural Resources
Assumed office
4 January 2011
Prime MinisterLord Tuʻivakanō, ʻAkilisi Pōhiva, Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
Preceded byLord Tuita
Minister for the Environment and Climate Change
In office
July 2009 – 30 December 2014
Prime MinisterFeleti Sevele, Lord Tuʻivakanō
Succeeded bySiaosi Sovaleni
Member of Parliament
for Tongatapu
Assumed office
23 April 2008
Personal details
Born1955 (age 65–66)
Political partynone (Nobles' Representative)
Spouse(s)Princess Lavinia Mataʻotahone Tukuʻaho
ChildrenHon. Tevita ʻUnga Lausiʻi
Hon. Lavinia Fangaʻaka Lausiʻi
ParentsHon. Tevita ʻUngamotangitau Lausiʻi
Hon. Peti Lausiʻi

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.[2][3]

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.[4] In July 2009, he was appointed Minister for the Environment and Climate Change in Prime Minister Feleti Sevele's Cabinet.[5][6]

He retained his seat in the November 2010 general election, again receiving ten votes.[7] He was then appointed Minister for Lands, Survey, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change in Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakanō's Cabinet;[8] legislation enacted in 2010 prescribed that only a Nobles' Representative could be appointed Minister for Lands.[9]

Following the 2014 election he was reappointed as Minister of lands, becoming the only noble representative in the cabinet of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva.[10] In February 2017 he was ostracised by Tonga's nobles for his participation in Cabinet.[11] In September 2017 he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister.[12] He returned to Cabinet following the DPFI's landslide[13] in the 2017 election, but resigned in March 2018 after a dispute with Minister of Police Mateni Tapueluelu. He rejoined Cabinet in May with the same portfolios.[14]

In October 2019 he was appointed Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces in the cabinet of Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa.[15]

Honours [16]
National honours
  • King Taufaʻahau Silver Jubilee Medal (4 July 1992).
  • Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
  • General Service Medal (Bougainville).
Foreign honours

References
  1. Genealogy
  2. "Lord Ma'afu - Tonga's Lands & Environment Minister" Archived 2012-08-05 at Archive.today, Tongan government portal, 16 January 2011
  3. Biography Archived 2011-10-09 at the Wayback Machine on the website of the Parliament of Tonga and another
  4. "Former Speaker Tu'iha'angana loses seat in Nobles election", Matangi Tonga, April 28, 2008
  5. Biography Archived 2011-10-09 at the Wayback Machine on the website of the Parliament of Tonga
  6. "Only three nobles chosen in 'able' new Tongan cabinet" Archived 2018-12-09 at the Wayback Machine, Pacific Media Centre, January 3, 2011
  7. "Vaea and Tu'ilakepa to enter House in Nobles seats", Matangi Tonga, November 25, 2010
  8. "First meeting of Tonga's new Cabinet", Matangi Tonga, January 5, 2011
  9. "Crown Prince not elected as Noble Representative" Archived 2012-03-16 at the Wayback Machine, Taimi Media Network, December 1, 2010
  10. "Tonga leader names one noble in Cabinet". RNZ. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  11. "Tonga's Pohiva survives no confidence vote". RNZ. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  12. "Lord Ma'afu Named Tonga Acting Prime Minister". Pacific Islands Report. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  13. "Landslide victory for Democrats in Tongan election". New Zealand Herald. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  14. "Tonga's Lord Ma'afu returns to Cabinet". RNZ. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  15. ""Prime Minister Announces New Cabinet Ministers"". Government of Tonga. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  16. Government of Tonga
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