Toke Talagi
Encyclopedia
Toke Tufukia Talagi is the current premier
of Niue
. He was elected premier by the Niue Assembly
on 19 June 2008, defeating the standing premier Young Vivian
by fourteen votes to five, with one abstaining.
It was under Talagi's premiership that Niue became, in November 2011, a founding member of the Polynesian Leaders Group
, a regional grouping intended to cooperate on a variety of issues including culture and language, education, responses to climate change, and trade and investment.
Talagi has been, at various times, deputy prime minister, minister of Finance, and minister of Education. Elected to the national Assembly in 2002, he obtained the same number of votes as an opponent in the 2005 election
, and retained his seat only thanks to a favourable random draw to designate a winner. He was re-elected
easily in 2008.
There are no political parties in Niue; Talagi is therefore an independent.
Talagi is also president of the Niue Rugby Union.
In 2008, he was elected chair of the Pacific Islands Forum
. In May 2009, Talagi co-chaired the 5th Pacific Alliance Leaders Meeting
(PALM) with then Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso
in Hokkaido
.
Premier of Niue
The Premier of Niue is Niue's head of government. He or she is elected by the Niue Assembly, and forms a Cabinet consisting of him- or herself and three other members of the Assembly....
of Niue
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
. He was elected premier by the Niue Assembly
Niue Assembly
The Niue Assembly is the legislature of Niue. It consists of 20 members, 14 representatives of the villages and 6 elected on a common roll. Members are directly elected by universal suffrage, and serve a three year term...
on 19 June 2008, defeating the standing premier Young Vivian
Young Vivian
Mititaiagimene Young Vivian is a Niuean politician who has twice been the premier of his country. Representing the Niue People's Action Party, he defeated sitting premier Sani Lakatani in May 2002 elections. Vivian had previously served as premier for a brief period from 12 December 1992 to 9...
by fourteen votes to five, with one abstaining.
It was under Talagi's premiership that Niue became, in November 2011, a founding member of the Polynesian Leaders Group
Polynesian Leaders Group
The Polynesian Leaders Group is an international governmental cooperation group bringing together eight independent or self-governing countries or territories in Polynesia....
, a regional grouping intended to cooperate on a variety of issues including culture and language, education, responses to climate change, and trade and investment.
Talagi has been, at various times, deputy prime minister, minister of Finance, and minister of Education. Elected to the national Assembly in 2002, he obtained the same number of votes as an opponent in the 2005 election
Niuean general election, 2005
General elections were held in Niue on 30 April 2005. No political parties ran in the poll, with all candidates standing as independents. Around 830 voters participated in the election and 17 of the 20 incumbent MPs retained their seats...
, and retained his seat only thanks to a favourable random draw to designate a winner. He was re-elected
Niuean general election, 2005
General elections were held in Niue on 30 April 2005. No political parties ran in the poll, with all candidates standing as independents. Around 830 voters participated in the election and 17 of the 20 incumbent MPs retained their seats...
easily in 2008.
There are no political parties in Niue; Talagi is therefore an independent.
Talagi is also president of the Niue Rugby Union.
In 2008, he was elected chair of the Pacific Islands Forum
Pacific Islands Forum
The Pacific Islands Forum is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Ocean. It was founded in 1971 as the South Pacific Forum...
. In May 2009, Talagi co-chaired the 5th Pacific Alliance Leaders Meeting
Pacific Alliance Leaders Meeting
The Pacific Alliance Leaders Meeting ' is a forum between the government of Japan and leaders in the Pacific Islands region. The Pacific Alliance Leaders Meeting was established by Japan in 1997 in order to facilitate and strengthen relations with the leaders of the nations of the Pacific Islands...
(PALM) with then Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso
Taro Aso
was the 92nd Prime Minister of Japan serving from September 2008 to September 2009, and was defeated in the August 2009 election.He has served in the House of Representatives since 1979. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007, and was Secretary-General of the LDP briefly in 2007 and...
in Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
.
External links
- Talagi speaks about developing Niue's economy and halting the demographic decline, interviewed by Geraldine Coutts of ABC Radio Australia, 29 September 2008 (audio)