Cabinet of Tonga

Current Cabinet

The current Cabinet was appointed by ʻAisake Eke on 28 January 2025.

Sovaleni Cabinet

The Sovaleni Cabinet was appointed by Siaosi Sovaleni on 28 December 2021. It consisted of ten elected people's representatives, one noble, and one minister outside cabinet - long-serving diplomat Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism. In addition, Pita Faiva Taufatofua was named Governor of Haʻapai, while Lord Fakatulolo was reappointed as Governor of Vavaʻu.

Agriculture Minister Viliami Hingano died in June 2022. Sione Siale Fohe was appointed to replace him on 2 August 2022. The elections of Tatafu Moeaki, Poasi Tei, and Sione Sangster Saulala were declared void and they were unseated for bribery on 10 August 2022.

On 1 September 2022 Lord Vaea was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, replacing Sangster Saulala. On 22 October 2022 Tiofilusi Tiueti was appointed as Minister of Finance, replacing Tatafu Moeaki.

Minister of Fisheries Semisi Fakahau died on 27 October 2022.

On 12 January 2024 Minister of Health Saia Piukala resigned to take up a role as WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Region Office. He was replaced as health minister by Siale ‘Akau’ola.

Following the resignation of Sovaleni as Prime Minister in December 2024, three noble members resigned from Cabinet. The remaining ministers continued as caretakers until their replacements were appointed in January 2025.

Tuʻiʻonetoa Cabinet

Tuʻiʻonetoa's Cabinet was appointed by Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa after he was elected Prime Minister following the death of ʻAkilisi Pohiva in September 2019.

On 25 January 2021 Samiu Vaipulu was appointed Minister of Justice and Prisons, replacing Sione Vuna Fa'otusia who had resigned in December 2020. Tatafu Moeaki, a non-MP, replaced Vaipulu as Minister for Trade and Economic Development.

Government on 10 October 2019

Past Cabinets

Pohiva Cabinet

The previous Cabinet results from the November 2014 general election. ʻAkilisi Pohiva, leader of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands and long-standing leader of the movement campaigning for democracy in Tonga, was elected Prime Minister by the new Parliament on 29 December. He was supported by fifteen of the seventeen People's Representatives: all ten MPs from his party, and five of the seven independent members. Conversely, all nine Nobles' Representatives voted for his rival, Samiu Vaipulu. Pohiva thus became the first commoner in Tonga to be elected Prime Minister by a predominantly elected Parliament. He appointed the following government on 30 December. Drawing from his majority in Parliament, all of his ministers are People's Representatives, with one exception. By law, the Ministry for Land must be entrusted to a Noble, and Pohiva thus invited incumbent minister Lord Maʻafu to retain that position. Pōhiva died on 12 September 2019 and Semisi Sika took over as acting prime minister.

Government on 30 December 2014

Tuʻivakano Cabinet

This Cabinet results from the November 2010 general election, the first enabling ordinary citizens to elect a majority of Members of Parliament, and the first also enabling Parliament to elect the Prime Minister. After being elected Prime Minister by Parliament, Lord Tuʻivakanō appointed the following as his Cabinet. His decision to appoint Dr. Ana Taufeʻulungaki and Clive Edwards, who were not Members of Parliament, was met with some controversy, but Tuʻivakanō defended his choice on the grounds of their experience. It also meant that the Ministry for Women's Affairs would be headed by a woman; as all members of the legislature were men, appointing a Member of Parliament to the position would have meant it being held by a man.

The Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, which had won twelve of the seventeen seats allotted to people's representatives in the Assembly, requested six seats in Cabinet, but was awarded only two, generating some disagreements within the party itself. Senior party MPs ʻAkilisi Pohiva and ʻIsileli Pulu nevertheless accepted the proposed Cabinet positions.

Lord Tuʻivakanō's first Cabinet, announced at the beginning of January 2011, was thus the following. On 13 January, however, newly appointed Health Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva (People's representative for Tongatapu 1) resigned, in protest over his party having only two Cabinet positions, and refusing to be bound by collective Cabinet responsibility. He was replaced by ʻUliti Uata (DPFI, People's Representative for Haʻapai 13) on 25 January.

On September 1, 2011, following a reshuffle which switched portfolios around without adding any new minister nor removing any, the Cabinet was as follows:

In mid-April 2012, another reshuffle was announced, to be effective from 1 May. Lisiate ʻAkolo, the Minister for Police, was to become Minister for Finance and National Planning. Sunia Fili, the Minister for Finance and Revenue, was to take over the Police, Prisons & Fire Services portfolio; Sosefo Vakata, Minister for Training, Employment, Youth and Sports, would become Minister for Revenue. Lord Vaea, in addition to retaining his Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries portfolio, would take over Vakata's erstwhile ministry. The reshuffle was implemented on 1 May.

In late June, three ministers (ʻIsileli Pulu (Labour), Sunia Fili (Police) and ʻUliti Uata (Health)) resigned, so as to support a motion of no confidence tabled by their party (DPFI) against the government. On 1 July, Sangster Saulala broke ranks with the DPFI to join the government, but resigned and rejoined the opposition the next day. On 5 July, Lord Tuʻiʻafitu was appointed Minister for Health. The other vacated portfolios remained vacant; Matangi Tonga pointed out that "the selection is difficult because of the very few friendly members of parliament left to choose from", as the (delayed) motion of no confidence loomed. On 13 July, Saulala joined the government once more, as Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Food. He argued that, although he was breaking ranks with his own party, it was the wish of his constituents.

No further announcement was made until 7 January 2013, when Lord Tuʻivakanō announced the following Cabinet:

On 2 February 2013, there was another reshuffle. Sifa Tuʻutafaiva, DPFI MP for Tongatapu 6, was appointed Minister for Police, Prisons and Fire Services, and Minister for Revenue Services, his first ministerial appointments. Feʻaomoeata Vakata, until then Minister for Revenue Services, was shuffled to the position of Minister of Public Enterprises, replacing Clive Edwards, who retained his other position as Minister for Justice.

On 9 January 2014, Finance Minister Lisiate ‘Akolo was sacked after publicly criticising aspects of the budget. ʻAisake Eke, Independent MP for Tongatapu 5, was appointed in his place.

Sevele Cabinet

For the most part, the Cabinet below results from a reshuffle in May 2009, but Teisina Fuko was subsequently appointed Minister for Revenue Services in October, and Samiu Vaipulu became Minister of Justice in November. John Cauchi became Attorney General in May 2009, but resigned in April 2010.

Source: "Tonga", C.I.A.

References

References

1. [https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/16092.htm Tonga profil], [[United States Department of State]]
2. (28 January 2025). "Tonga PM 'Aisake Eke unveils new Cabinet: two women and one noble among the ministers". RNZ.
3. (29 December 2021). "PM names new government". Matangi Tonga.
4. (29 December 2021). "Tonga's PM names new government". [[RNZ]].
5. (10 June 2022). "Tonga Minister for Agriculture dies in Auckland". Kaniva Tonga.
6. (2 August 2022). "Lord Fohe appointed Minister of Agriculture". Matangi Tonga.
7. (9 August 2022). "Appeals dismissed, three Cabinet Ministers elections void". Matangi Tonga.
8. (10 August 2022). "Three Cabinet Ministers unseated". Matangi Tonga.
9. (12 August 2022). "Gov't will have to find three new ministers". Matangi Tonga.
10. (25 October 2022). "Parliament resumes, two new MPs". Matangi Tonga.
11. (22 October 2022). "Tiofilusi Tiueti new Minister of Finance". Matangi Tonga.
12. (28 October 2022). "PM announces death of Fisheries Minister". Matangi Tonga.
13. (27 October 2022). "Tongan Minister for Fisheries dies". Kaniva Tonga.
14. (12 January 2024). "Minister of Health Dr Saia Piukala leaves Tonga government to take up regional role". Matangi Tonga.
15. (31 January 2024). "Dr ‘Akau‘ola takes over as new Minister for Health after Dr Piukala’s move to WHO". Kaniva Tonga.
16. (10 December 2024). "More nobles resign from Tonga's Cabinet". RNZ.
17. "Parliament elects Dr Pōhiva Tu'i'onetoa as new PM".
18. (10 October 2019). ""Prime Minister Announces New Cabinet Ministers"". Government of Tonga.
19. Kalino Latu. (25 January 2021). "King appoints new Minister for Trade and Economic Development; Ha‘apai has new governor". Kaniva Tonga.
20. [http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/262762/akilisi-pohiva-tonga's-new-pm "Akilisi Pohiva Tonga's new PM"], Radio New Zealand, 29 December 2014
21. link. (2014-12-29 , ''Tonga Daily News'', 29 December 2014)
22. {{usurped
23. [http://pacificpolitics.com/2014/03/inappropriate-land-grabs-in-tonga/ "Inappropriate land-grabs in Tonga"], Pacific Institute of Public Policy, March 2014
24. (6 January 2011). "Tonga PM justifies appointing unelected ministers". [[Radio New Zealand International]].
25. (4 January 2011). "Editorial: Democracy's day one step closer in Tonga". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
26. [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201101/s3107733.htm "Confusion over Tonga's Democratic Party being in Cabinet"], ABC Radio Australia, 6 Jan 2011
27. [http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/government/20110105_tonga_cabinet.shtml "First meeting of Tonga's new Cabinet"], Matangi Tonga, 5 Jan 2011
28. Field, Michael. (14 January 2011). "Tonga's democracy campaigner quits". [[Stuff.co.nz]].
29. [http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201101/3112864.htm "Democratic Party head resigns as Tongan health minister"] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-03-14 , Australia Network News, 14 Jan 2011)
30. (14 January 2011). "Tonga's PM accepts resignation of Akilisi Pohiva from ministerial post". [[Radio New Zealand International]].
31. (26 January 2011). "New Minister of Health". Matangi Tonga.
32. (7 September 2011). "Cabinet quietly reshuffles portfolios". Matangi Tonga.
33. [http://matangitonga.to/2012/04/20/four-cabinet-ministers-be-reshuffled-may-1 "Four Cabinet Ministers to be reshuffled on May 1"], Matangi Tonga, 20 April 2012
34. [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=67504 "Tonga government names ministers"], Radio New Zealand International, 15 April 2012
35. [http://pidp.org/pireport/2012/May/05-04-08.htm "Tonga Prime Minister Defends Cabinet Reshuffle"] {{Webarchive. link. (2016-03-04 , Radio New Zealand International, 3 May 2012)
36. [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=69116 "Three Cabinet Ministers in Tonga resign ahead of confidence motion"], Radio New Zealand International, 25 June 2012
37. [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=69537 "Tonga opposition MP Saulala becomes government minister"], Radio New Zealand International, 13 July 2012
38. [http://matangitonga.to/2012/07/09/pms-new-cabinet-short-ministers "PM's new Cabinet short of ministers"], ''Matangi Tonga'', 9 July 2012
39. [http://matangitonga.to/2013/01/10/prime-minister-announced-cabinet-2013 "Prime Minister Announced Cabinet for 2013"], [[Matangi Tonga]], 10 January 2013
40. [http://matangitonga.to/2013/02/04/sifa-tuutafaiva-new-minister-police-and-revenue "Sifa Tu'utafaiva, new Minister of Police and Revenue"], ''Matangi Tonga'', 4 February 2013
41. [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/tongas-finance-minister-sacked-after-defying-order-to-quit/1245556 "Tonga's finance minister sacked after defying order to quit"], Radio Australia, 9 January 2014
42. [http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tonga/4220/aisake-eke-appointed-new-tongan-finance-minister/ "‘Aisake Eke appointed new Tongan Finance Minister"] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-04-04 , ''[[Islands Business]]'', 14 January 2014)
43. (10 November 2009). "Vava'u MP becomes Tonga's new Justice Minister". [[RNZ]].
44. [http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/government/tonga_ministers_appointed_050509.shtml "Tonga cabinet reshuffle"] {{Webarchive. link. (2011-05-27 , [[Matangi Tonga]], 5 May 2009)
45. [http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/law/2009020609_cauchi_attorneygen_tong.shtml "Tonga's new Attorney General"] {{webarchive. link. (2011-05-27 , [[Matangi Tonga]], 2 Jun 2009)
46. [https://web.archive.org/web/20101108012748/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/30/2887202.htm "Tongan A-G resigns over government interference"], [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]], 30 Apr 2010
47. [http://www.matangitonga.to/article/haapaiday1_140808_1606.shtml "Joyful welcome for "Tu'i Ha'apai""] {{Webarchive. link. (2009-02-17 , [[Matangi Tonga]], 14 Aug 2008)
48. [http://www.matangitonga.to/article/india_050708_0504_pf.shtml "The people of Hunga welcome Indian diplomat"] {{Webarchive. link. (2009-02-16 , Matangi Tonga, 5 Jul 2008)