Niuas Nobles' constituency
Encyclopedia
Niuas is an electoral constituency which sends one representative to the Legislative Assembly
of Tonga
. It covers the islands of Niuafoʻou and Niuatoputapu
.
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 the Niuas thus overlaps with a peoples' constituency, which also elects a single representative.
Members of the nobility whose title is attached to lands in the constituency may vote there, and be elected as the constituency's representative. Nobles do not formally stand as candidates, however, and never belong to any political party. Following the 2010 electoral reforms, any person holding more than one title, corresponding to lands in several constituencies, may only vote in one constituency. The titles corresponding to the Niuas are Fotofili, Fusituʻa, Maʻatu and Tangipa, meaning that the constituency may have up to four voters. At present, the holder of the title of Fotofili also holds the title of Kalaniuvalu, which entitles him to vote in the Tongatapu constituency. The Maʻatu title is vacant. Thus, the constituency actually consists in between two and three voters.
Records of elections are sparse. In the 1996 general election
, the Honourable Fusituʻa was elected; there is no further information. Nor is there any information for the 1999, 2002 or 2005 general election results. In the 2008 election
, three votes were cast in the Niuas: two for Lord Tangipa, and one for Lord Fotofili; the former was thus duly elected. In the 2010 election
, specific voting figures were not reported, but Lord Fusituʻa was elected with a single vote , which suggests that only one vote was cast. This may be explained by Lord Fotofili opting to vote in Tongatapu, and Lord Fusituʻa himself not casting a vote (or voting blank), so that Lord Tangipa's lone vote could elect him.
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 islands of Niuafoʻou and Niuatoputapu
Niuatoputapu
For the 2009 tsunami, see the main article: 2009 Samoa tsunami.Niuatoputapu is an island in the island nation of Tonga, Pacific Ocean. Its name means sacred island. Older European names for the island are Traitors island or Keppel island.Niuatoputapu is located in the north of the country,...
.
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 the Niuas thus overlaps with a peoples' constituency, which also elects a single representative.
Members of the nobility whose title is attached to lands in the constituency may vote there, and be elected as the constituency's representative. Nobles do not formally stand as candidates, however, and never belong to any political party. Following the 2010 electoral reforms, any person holding more than one title, corresponding to lands in several constituencies, may only vote in one constituency. The titles corresponding to the Niuas are Fotofili, Fusituʻa, Maʻatu and Tangipa, meaning that the constituency may have up to four voters. At present, the holder of the title of Fotofili also holds the title of Kalaniuvalu, which entitles him to vote in the Tongatapu constituency. The Maʻatu title is vacant. Thus, the constituency actually consists in between two and three voters.
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 Niuafoʻou and Niuatoputapu were each associated with a title, and therefore each had a noble representing them. 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 Niuas, 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 Fusituʻa was 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...
, three votes were cast in the Niuas: two for Lord Tangipa, and one for Lord Fotofili; the former was thus duly elected. In the 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....
, specific voting figures were not reported, but Lord Fusituʻa was elected with a single vote , which suggests that only one vote was cast. This may be explained by Lord Fotofili opting to vote in Tongatapu, and Lord Fusituʻa himself not casting a vote (or voting blank), so that Lord Tangipa's lone vote could elect him.
Members of Parliament
Prior to 1996- no information
Since 1996
| Election | Member | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Fusituʻa | |
| 1996, 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 Tangipa | |
| 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 Fusituʻa | |