Vavaʻu Nobles' constituency
Encyclopedia
Vavaʻu is an electoral constituency which sends two representatives to the Legislative Assembly
of Tonga
. It covers the eponymous region and island chain.
Since its inception in 1875, the Assembly has consisted in representatives of the people and in members of the nobiity. Following constitutional reforms in 2010, designed to strengthen democracy in the kingdom, the nobility elect nine representatives, while the people elect seventeen. The nobles' constituency in Vavaʻu thus overlaps with three single-seat peoples' constituencies.
Members of the nobility whose title is attached to lands in the constituency may vote there, and be elected as the constituency's representatives. Nobles do not formally stand as candidates, however, and never belong to any political party. There are eight titles of nobility attached to Vavaʻu: Fakatulolo, Fulivai, Luani, Tuʻiʻafitu, Tuʻilakepa, Tuita, ʻUlukalala, and Veikune. All are currently attributed, giving the constituency a full electorate of eight.
Records of elections are sparse. In the 1996 general election
, the Honourable Fulivai and the Honourable Veikune were elected; there is no further information. Nor is there any information for the 1999, 2002 or 2005 general election results. In the 2008 election
, before nobles were restricted to voting only in the constituency associated with their lands, fifteen votes were cast; Honourable Luani and Honourable Tuʻilakepa
were elected with three votes each. Lord Luani died in office in May 2010, and it was thus his successor to the title who voted in the November 2010 election
. With the number of voters reduced to eight, the electorate was split evenly between two nobles, who were thus both elected.
Since 1996
Legislative Assembly of Tonga
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has 30 members, 9 members elected for a three year term in multi-seat constituencies via the single non-transferable vote system, 9 members elected for a three year term by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga, 10 members of the Privy Council and 2 governors. The...
of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
. It covers the eponymous region and island chain.
Since its inception in 1875, the Assembly has consisted in representatives of the people and in members of the nobiity. Following constitutional reforms in 2010, designed to strengthen democracy in the kingdom, the nobility elect nine representatives, while the people elect seventeen. The nobles' constituency in Vavaʻu thus overlaps with three single-seat peoples' constituencies.
Members of the nobility whose title is attached to lands in the constituency may vote there, and be elected as the constituency's representatives. Nobles do not formally stand as candidates, however, and never belong to any political party. There are eight titles of nobility attached to Vavaʻu: Fakatulolo, Fulivai, Luani, Tuʻiʻafitu, Tuʻilakepa, Tuita, ʻUlukalala, and Veikune. All are currently attributed, giving the constituency a full electorate of eight.
History, recent elections and members
The constituency as such did not exist for the first Assembly in 1875. At that time, there were twenty nobles in all the kingdom, and they all sat in the Assembly, along with twenty elected peoples' representatives; the islands of Vavaʻu were associated with four titles of nobility. As the number of titles of nobility was increased by successive monarchs, a constitutional amendment in 1914 provided that the nobles would henceforth elect seven among them to represent them; the number of peoples' representatives was also decreased to seven. The nobles' constituency of Vavaʻu, as such, may have been established at this time.Records of elections are sparse. In the 1996 general election
Tongan general election, 1996
General elections were held in Tonga on 24 and 25 January 1996 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. The nobles were elected on 24 January and the nine people's representatives on 25 January. A total of 61 candidates ran for the latter...
, the Honourable Fulivai and the Honourable Veikune were elected; there is no further information. Nor is there any information for the 1999, 2002 or 2005 general election results. In the 2008 election
Tongan general election, 2008
Parliamentary elections were held in Tonga on April 23 and 24, 2008 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly. The nobles were elected on 23 April, and the nine people's representatives on 24 April. A total of 32,000 people turned out to vote, giving a turnout of 48%.71 candidates had filed for...
, before nobles were restricted to voting only in the constituency associated with their lands, fifteen votes were cast; Honourable Luani and Honourable Tuʻilakepa
Malakai Fakatoufifita
Malakai Fakatoufifita, styled Hon. Tu'ilakepa, is a Tongan noble, politician, and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.Fakatoufifita was educated at Liahona High School in Tonga and in the USA...
were elected with three votes each. Lord Luani died in office in May 2010, and it was thus his successor to the title who voted in the November 2010 election
Tongan general election, 2010
Early general elections under a new electoral law were held in Tonga on 25 November 2010. They determined the composition of the 2010 Tongan Legislative Assembly....
. With the number of voters reduced to eight, the electorate was split evenly between two nobles, who were thus both elected.
Members of Parliament
Prior to 1996- no information
Since 1996
| Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Tongan general election, 1996 General elections were held in Tonga on 24 and 25 January 1996 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. The nobles were elected on 24 January and the nine people's representatives on 25 January. A total of 61 candidates ran for the latter... |
Lord Fulivai | none | Lord Veikune | none | ||
| 1999, 2002, 2005 | ? | ? | ||||
| 2008 Tongan general election, 2008 Parliamentary elections were held in Tonga on April 23 and 24, 2008 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly. The nobles were elected on 23 April, and the nine people's representatives on 24 April. A total of 32,000 people turned out to vote, giving a turnout of 48%.71 candidates had filed for... |
Lord Luani | none | Lord Tuʻilakepa Malakai Fakatoufifita Malakai Fakatoufifita, styled Hon. Tu'ilakepa, is a Tongan noble, politician, and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.Fakatoufifita was educated at Liahona High School in Tonga and in the USA... |
none | ||
| 2010 Tongan general election, 2010 Early general elections under a new electoral law were held in Tonga on 25 November 2010. They determined the composition of the 2010 Tongan Legislative Assembly.... |
Lord Tuʻiʻafitu Lord Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu Lord Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu , more commonly styled Lord Tuʻiʻafitu, is a Tongan clergyman, politician and Lord of the Realm.... |
none | ||||