Langi Kavaliku

Senipisi Langi Kavaliku (1939 – 3 December 2008), styled Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, was a Tongan scholar and politician. He served as a Cabinet Minister for 35 years, and was Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga in the 1990s. He was the first Tongan to obtain a master's degree and a PhD.[1]

Langi Kavaliku
Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga
In office
22 August 1991 – 2000
Prime MinisterBaron Vaea
ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho
Preceded byBaron Vaea
Succeeded byTevita Poasi Tupou
Minister of Education
In office
1966–2000
Prime MinisterFatafehi Tuʻipelehake
Baron Vaea
ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho
Succeeded byTutoatasi Fakafanua
Personal details
Born1939
Died3 December 2008

Early life

Kavaliku was educated at Harvard University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, before obtaining a Master of Arts from the University of Cambridge.[1] In 1966 he completed a PhD from Victoria University of Wellington, with a thesis was on "Educational reorganization for national development in Tonga".[2]

Political career

Shortly after graduating he was appointed to Cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio. In early 1968 he was appointed acting Minister of Finance while Mahe 'Uli'uli Tupouniua was seeking medical treatment in New Zealand.[3] In 1969 he was serving as Minister of Education and Works.[4] In 1969 he was granted the royal chiefly title of Hu'akavameiliku.[5] He served as pro-chancellor of the University of the South Pacific from 1976 to 1981, and again from 2000 - 2006.[6]

He served as deputy prime minister for over 20 years.[7] He retired from politics in 2000.[8] Following the 2005 Tongan public service strike he was appointed to the National Committee for Political Reform which recommended a transition to democracy.[9]

Death

On 3 December 2008, he was killed in a car accident when his car struck a mound of rocks.[10]

Family

His son Siaosi Sovaleni is the current Prime Minister of Tonga.[5]

References
  1. "Pasifika writings launched". Massey University. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  2. Educational reorganization for national development in Tonga. WorldCat. OCLC 225662813. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  3. "People". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 39, no. 3. 1 March 1968. p. 117. Retrieved 19 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Ministers agree to build up and improve Pacific aviation". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 40, no. 10. 1 October 1969. p. 157. Retrieved 19 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. admin (2021-01-27). "Chiefly title Hu'akavameiliku bestowed on Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni". FĀNGONGO Media Watch. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  6. "PRO-CHANCELLORS". University of the South Pacific. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  7. Latu, Kalino (2014-11-30). "Independents have the right to a place in the race for Tongan premiership". Kaniva Tonga | Largest NZ-based Tongan news service. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  8. James, Kerry (2002). "Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001: Tonga". The Contemporary Pacific. 14 (1): 236–237. doi:10.1353/cp.2002.0013.
  9. "HALAPUA TO PRESENT TONGA REFORM PROPOSAL TO KING". Pacific Islands Report. 1 September 2006. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021.
  10. "Tonga loses leading scholar, Dr Langi Kavaliku". Matangitonga. 2008-12-07. Retrieved 2022-01-15.


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