Moʻale Finau
Moʻale Finau (born February 10, 1960[1]) is a Tongan politician and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.
Moʻale Finau | |
|---|---|
Finau in 2016 | |
| Governor of Ha'apai | |
| In office 9 February 2015 – 26 June 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | ʻAkilisi Pōhiva |
| Preceded by | Havea Tu‘iha‘angana |
| Succeeded by | Mohenoa Puloka |
| Member of Parliament for Haʻapai 12 | |
| Assumed office 1 September 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Viliami Hingano |
| In office 16 November 2017 – 18 November 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Viliami Hingano |
| Succeeded by | Viliami Hingano |
| In office 25 November 2010 – 27 November 2014 | |
| Preceded by | none (constituency established) |
| Succeeded by | Viliami Hingano |
| Majority | 11.1% |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 February 1960 |
| Political party | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands |
He is a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.
Finau has a Master of Arts degree in Geography and a Certificate in Law.[1] He worked as a teacher, businessman and leadership training officer before entering politics.[1] He stood unsuccessfully as an independent for the seat of Haʻapai in both the 2005[2] and 2008[3] general elections. In the 2010 general election he stood in the new Haʻapai 12 constituency for the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, and was elected with 31.9% of the vote.[4] He lost the seat by 4 votes in the 2014 election.
In February 2015 Finau was appointed Governor of Ha'apai.[5] In May 2016 he was charged with careless driving after injuring a man while driving in Tongatapu.[6] In September 2017 the Auditor-General found that he had unlawfully spent T$150,000 from a community development fund on his own projects.[7]
He was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2017 Tongan general election. He lost his seat again in the 2021 Tongan general election.[8] He was re-elected in the 2022 Ha’apai 12 by-election.[9][10]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Mo'ale Finau". Parliament of Tonga. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
- ^ "KINGDOM OF TONGA LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS OF 17 MARCH 2005". Adam Carr. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ "KINGDOM OF TONGA LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS OF 24 APRIL 2008". Adam Carr. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ 2010 general election results, Matangi Tonga
- ^ "Commoner becomes governor of Tonga's Ha'apai". Radio New Zealand International. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
- ^ "Ha'apai Governor charged with careless driving after man injured". Kaniva Tonga. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Haʻapai governor regarded development fund as a blessing for his own projects, report says". Kaniva Tonga. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Tonga elects all-male parliament with nine new People's Reps". Matangi Tonga. 18 November 2021. from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "Acting Speaker congratulates Mo'ale Finau on winning Ha'apai 12 by-election". Legislative Assembly of Tonga. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ Linny Folau (7 September 2022). "Mo'ale Finau wins Ha'apai 12 By-Election". Matangi Tonga. Retrieved 7 September 2022.