Viliami Ta’u Tangi, styled Lord Tangi of Vaonukonuka, is a Tongan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He has previously served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health.
Viliami Tangi | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga | |
| In office May 2006 – 4 January 2011 | |
| Prime Minister | Feleti Sevele |
| Preceded by | James Cocker |
| Succeeded by | Samiu Vaipulu |
| Minister of Health | |
| In office 1 March 1999 – 4 January 2011 | |
| Prime Minister | Baron Vaea ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho Feleti Sevele |
| Succeeded by | ʻAkilisi Pōhiva |
Biography
editTangi is from Vavaʻu.[1] He trained as a medical doctor at the Fiji School of Medicine, then entered the civil service as a medical officer. After completing surgical training overseas he became the second Tongan national admitted to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.[2] He worked as Chief Surgeon in Vaiola Hospital, Nuku'alofa, before moving to Australia. He returned to Tonga after being appointed as Minister of Health in 1999. As a Minister, he sat in the Tongan Parliament, but was not an elected representative. In 2003 he was elected to the WHO Executive Board.[2]
Following democratic reforms in 2010, Tangi contested the 2010 election,[3] but failed to win a seat. On 30 December 2010, he was appointed a Tongan life peer by King George Tupou V as Lord Tangi of Vaonukonuka.[2]
Following the 2021 Tongan general election, he was appointed interim Speaker.[4]
Honours
edit- National honours
Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III, Knight Grand Cross with Collar (31 July 2008).[5]
References
edit- ^ David Riley (2016). Tongan Heroes (PDF). Auckland: Reading Warrior. pp. 28–30. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Lord Tangi of Vaonukonuka". Government of Tonga. 30 December 2010. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
- ^ "Tonga health minister standing in elections to ensure continuity". RNZ. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Lord Tangi is interim Speaker of the House". Nukualofa Times. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- ^ "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
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