ʻAlisi Afeaki Taumoepeau is a Tongan politician. She became the first woman to hold a Cabinet post in Tonga when she was named Attorney general and Minister of Justice in 2006.
Malia Viviena ʻAlisi Nunia Taumoepeau studied law at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand,[1] becoming the first Tongan woman with a degree in the subject. She had initially wanted to study medicine and mathematics but was not accepted for a scholarship. She turned to law at the suggestion of her father, Pousima ʻAfeaki. Upon returning to Tonga she worked at the Crown Law Office for several years. By 2004 she had become solicitor general for the country. At the same time her husband ʻAisea Taumoepeau jointly held the posts of attorney general and Minister for Justice but was asked to resign. She was also pressured to resign by Prime MinisterFatafehi Tuʻipelehake, following her support of civil servants during a strike.[2]
When Taumoepeau was named jointly as attorney general and Minister for Justice in 2006[3][4] it was the first time that a Tongan woman had been named to a cabinet post within the Tongan Government.[5]
She was asked to resign her posts by the Tongan government, which she did effective May 31, 2009. Following her resignation her former role was split into two,[3] with John Cauchi succeeding her as attorney general, and Samiu Vaipulu becoming the new Minister of Justice. At the time there was no official comment but it was later reported that it was after she mislead the Cabinet. Following the resignation of Cauchi from the attorney general post, she agreed with his allegations that both resignations were after the Cabinet interfered in the country's legal system.[6]
In September 2020 she was made a King's Counsel.[7] She then worked as chief executive for the Office of the Ombudsman.[1]
In February 2023 she was sworn in as acting Ombudsman, replacing her husband, ʻAisea Taumoepeau.[1]
ʻalisi, afeaki, taumoepeau, tongan, politician, became, first, woman, hold, cabinet, post, tonga, when, named, attorney, general, minister, justice, 2006, malia, viviena, ʻalisi, nunia, taumoepeauacting, ombudsman, tongaincumbentassumed, office, february, 2023. ʻAlisi Afeaki Taumoepeau is a Tongan politician She became the first woman to hold a Cabinet post in Tonga when she was named Attorney general and Minister of Justice in 2006 ʻAlisi Afeaki TaumoepeauMalia Viviena ʻAlisi Nunia TaumoepeauActing Ombudsman of TongaIncumbentAssumed office 18 February 2023Preceded byʻAisea TaumoepeauMinister of JusticeIn office 17 May 2006 31 May 2009MonarchKing George Tupou VPrime MinisterDr Feleti SevelePreceded bySiaosi Taimani ʻAhoSucceeded bySamiu VaipuluAttorney General of TongaIn office 17 May 2006 31 May 2009MonarchKing George Tupou VPrime MinisterDr Feleti SevelePreceded bySiaosi Taimani ʻAhoSucceeded byJohn CauchiPersonal detailsSpouseʻAisea TaumoepeauCareer editMalia Viviena ʻAlisi Nunia Taumoepeau studied law at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand 1 becoming the first Tongan woman with a degree in the subject She had initially wanted to study medicine and mathematics but was not accepted for a scholarship She turned to law at the suggestion of her father Pousima ʻAfeaki Upon returning to Tonga she worked at the Crown Law Office for several years By 2004 she had become solicitor general for the country At the same time her husband ʻAisea Taumoepeau jointly held the posts of attorney general and Minister for Justice but was asked to resign She was also pressured to resign by Prime Minister Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake following her support of civil servants during a strike 2 When Taumoepeau was named jointly as attorney general and Minister for Justice in 2006 3 4 it was the first time that a Tongan woman had been named to a cabinet post within the Tongan Government 5 She was asked to resign her posts by the Tongan government which she did effective May 31 2009 Following her resignation her former role was split into two 3 with John Cauchi succeeding her as attorney general and Samiu Vaipulu becoming the new Minister of Justice At the time there was no official comment but it was later reported that it was after she mislead the Cabinet Following the resignation of Cauchi from the attorney general post she agreed with his allegations that both resignations were after the Cabinet interfered in the country s legal system 6 In September 2020 she was made a King s Counsel 7 She then worked as chief executive for the Office of the Ombudsman 1 In February 2023 she was sworn in as acting Ombudsman replacing her husband ʻAisea Taumoepeau 1 Honours editNational honours nbsp Order of Queen Salote Tupou III Grand Cross 31 July 2008 8 References edit a b c Alisi Taumoepeau sworn in as Interim Ombudsman Matangi Tonga 10 February 2023 Retrieved 11 February 2023 Tonga s first woman Government Minister also Attorney General Pacific Women in Politics 17 May 2006 Archived from the original on 7 November 2017 Retrieved 1 November 2017 a b Tonga s Justice Minister Attorney General Resigns Pacific Islands Report 2 June 2009 Archived from the original on 2 July 2018 Retrieved 1 November 2017 A cabinet reshuffle takes place in Tonga RNZ 17 May 2006 Retrieved 7 August 2022 Election campaign is not about paying voters bills ʻAlisi Taumoepeau says Ministry of Information amp Communications 10 April 2014 Archived from the original on 10 July 2019 Retrieved 1 November 2017 Former Tongan Justice Minister explains why she quit Radio Australia 15 February 2012 Retrieved 1 November 2017 Tonga s women lawyers appointed King s Counsel Loop Tonga 10 September 2020 Retrieved 28 July 2022 Royal orders presented at Palace Matangi Tonga 1 August 2008 Archived from the original on 21 January 2021 Retrieved 2 January 2022 Legal officesPreceded bySiaosi Taimani ʻAho Attorney General of Tonga2006 2009 Succeeded byJohn CauchiPolitical officesPreceded bySiaosi Taimani ʻAho Minister of Justice2006 2009 Succeeded bySamiu VaipuluGovernment officesPreceded byʻAisea Taumoepeau Acting Ombudsman of Tonga2023 present Incumbent Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title ʻAlisi Afeaki Taumoepeau amp oldid 1186584225, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
