Tatafu Toma Moeaki (born 1972)[1] is a Tongan politician, former Cabinet Minister, and civil servant.
Tatafu Moeaki | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Moeaki in 2016 | |
| Governor of National Reserve Bank of Tonga | |
| Assumed office 20 December 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Sione Ngongo Kioa |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 28 December 2021 – 10 August 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Siaosi Sovaleni |
| Preceded by | Tevita Lavemaau |
| Succeeded by | Tiofilusi Tiueti |
| Minister for Revenue and Customs | |
| In office 28 December 2021 – 10 August 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Tevita Lavemaau |
| Minister for Trade and Economic Development | |
| In office 25 January 2021 – 28 December 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa |
| Preceded by | Samiu Vaipulu |
| Succeeded by | Viliami Latu |
| Member of Parliament for Tongatapu 4 | |
| In office 18 November 2021 – 10 August 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Mateni Tapueluelu |
| Succeeded by | Mateni Tapueluelu |
Moeaki joined the Tongan public service in 1995, working as head of Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Education and as Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs.[2] In 2011 he worked as chief executive of the Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industries.[3] In 2013 he was appointed chief executive of the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.[1] He resigned as chief executive in 2016 to take up a position for the Asian Development Bank.[2]
On 25 January 2021 he was appointed to Prime Minister Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa's Cabinet as Minister for Trade and Economic Development in the cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of Sione Vuna Fa'otusia.[4][5] After serving as a Minister he ran for the seat of Tongatapu 4 in the 2021 Tongan general election and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.[6] On 28 December 2021 he was appointed to the Cabinet of Siaosi Sovaleni as Minister of Finance and Minister of Revenue and Customs.[7] On 6 May 2022 his election was voided after the Supreme Court found him guilty on two counts of bribery in an election petition.[8] The conviction was stayed pending appeal on 26 May 2022.[9] On 9 August 2022 his appeal was dismissed, and his election confirmed as void.[10][11] He was formally unseated by Parliament on 10 August.[12]
After being ousted from Parliament he was immediately hired as a project manager by the finance ministry.[13] On 20 December 2022 he was appointed Governor of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b "Tatafu Moeaki new Finance CEO". Matangi Tonga. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Ministry of Finance CEO resigns". Matangi Tonga. 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 15 July 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ "Tonga keen to modernise business registry". RNZ. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ Kalino Latu (25 January 2021). "King appoints new Minister for Trade and Economic Development; Ha'apai has new governor". Kaniva Tonga. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ "King confirms key government appointments". Fangongo. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ "Tonga elects all-male parliament with nine new People's Reps". Matangi Tonga. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "PM names new government". Matangi Tonga. 29 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ "Another election result cancelled as Moeaki found guilty of bribery in Tongatapu 4 contest". Kaniva Tonga. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Convicted Tongan MPs given stay by appeals". RNZ. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Appeals dismissed, three Cabinet Ministers elections void". Matangi Tonga. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Tonga court dismisses three Cabinet Ministers' electoral fraud appeals; upholds former PM's appeal". Kaniva Tonga. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Three Cabinet Ministers unseated". Matangi Tonga. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ "Ousted Finance Minister and convict Tatafu Moeaki stays in gov't as project manager". Kaniva Tonga. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ "Tatafu Moeaki, new Governor of National Reserve Bank of Tonga". Matangi Tonga. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.