ʻAlipate Tuʻivanuavou Vaea

ʻAlipate Tuʻivanuavou Vaea, Lord Vaea[1] (born September 19, 1957[2]) is a Tongan politician and a member of the Tongan nobility. He has served as Master of the Royal Household and "long-time palace archivist", as well as being Chairman of the Tonga Traditions Committee.[3]

The Honourable
Lord Vaea
Lord Vaea in 2020
Minister of Internal Affairs
Assumed office
1 September 2022
Prime MinisterSiaosi Sovaleni
Preceded bySangster Saulala
Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries
In office
4 January 2011 – 13 July 2012
Prime MinisterLord Tuʻivakanō
Preceded byPrince Tuʻipelehake Mailefihi
Succeeded bySangster Saulala
Minister for Training, Employment, Youth and Sports
In office
1 May 2012 – 30 December 2014
Prime MinisterLord Tuʻivakanō
Preceded bySosefo Vakata
Succeeded bySosefo Vakata
Member of the Tongan Parliament
for Tongatapu Noble's constituency
Assumed office
18 November 2021
Preceded byLord Vaha'i
In office
25 November 2010 – 16 November 2017
Succeeded byLord Vaha'i
Personal details
Born
ʻAlipate (Albert) Tuʻivanuavou Vaea

(1957-09-19) 19 September 1957
Political partynone (Nobles' Representative)
SpouseLady Siatukimoana Fakafānua Vaea
Parent(s)Baron Vaea
Baroness Tuputupu Vaea

He was bestowed the title of 16th Lord Vaea and 2nd Baron Vaea of Houma upon the death of his father, ʻAlipate Halakilangi Tau'alupeoko Vaea Tupou, the previous Vaea, on 7 June 2009.[4][5] His mother is Baroness Tuputupu Vaea. Vaea is the brother of the present Queen of Tonga Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho and the brother-in-law (and second cousin) of King Tupou VI.

This enabled him to rank among the small number of nobles entitled to elect and be elected among, the Nobles' Representatives to Parliament. Thus he began his career in national politics when he was elected to Parliament as a Nobles' Representative for Tongatapu in the November 2010 general election. He was then appointed Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries in the Cabinet of new Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakanō.[6] On 1 May 2012, he received, in addition, the Training, Employment, Youth and Sports portfolio.[7][8]

Tuʻivanuavou was re-elected as a noble's representative in the 2014 Tongan general election, and became the unofficial leader of the opposition.[9] In August 2016 Tuʻivanuavou repeatedly promised to bring a no confidence motion against Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva, but ultimately failed to do so.[10] A later attempt in early 2017 was defeated, 10 votes to 14.[11]

He sought re-election at the 2017 Tongan general election, but tied the vote with Lord Vaha'i and lost the subsequent coin-toss.[12] He was re-elected at the 2021 election.[13] On 1 September 2022 he was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, replacing Sangster Saulala, whose election had been voided for bribery.[14]

Patronages

Ancestry

References
  1. Genealogy
  2. Biography on the website of the Parliament of Tonga
  3. "New Cabinet lineup: 1 woman, 2 Demo Party members, 2 nobles", Taimi Media Network, December 30, 2010
  4. "Tu'ivanuavou appointed to noble title Vaea", Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association, June 17, 2009
  5. "SUCCESSOR TO TONGA'S 'VAEA' TITLE NAMED". Pacific Islands Report. 17 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  6. Biography on the website of the Parliament of Tonga
  7. "Four Cabinet Ministers to be reshuffled on May 1", Matangi Tonga, 20 April 2012
  8. "Tonga government names ministers", Radio New Zealand International, 15 April 2012
  9. "Tonga PM 'Declares' Lord Vaea 'Leader Of Opposition'". Pacific Islands Report. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  10. "No confidence motion against Tongan PM evaporates in House". RNZ. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  11. "Tonga's Pohiva survives no confidence vote". RNZ. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  12. "Tongan parliamentary seat decided by coin toss". RNZ. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  13. "Twelve new MPs in Tonga election - but no women elected". RNZ. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  14. "Parliament resumes, two new MPs". Matangi Tonga. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
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