Vatau Mefi Hui (born 1970) is a Tongan politician and former Cabinet Minister.[1]

Vatau Hui
Minister for Internal Affairs
In office
10 October 2019 – 28 December 2021
Prime MinisterPohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
Preceded bySaia Piukala
Succeeded bySione Sangster Saulala
Member of Parliament
for Niua 17
Assumed office
16 November 2017
Preceded byFe‘aomoeata Vakata
Personal details
Political partyPeople's Party

Hui worked in the education sector, as an assistant teacher at Niuatoutapu High School, then for the Ministry of Education and Tonga Institute of Education.[1] He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga as part of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands's landslide victory[2] at the 2017 Tongan general election. In May 2018 he pleaded guilty to failing to submit a report of his electoral expenses and was fined US$129.[3]

Following the death of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva Hui supported Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa for Prime Minister, leaving the DPFI to join Tuʻiʻonetoa's new People's Party.[4] He was subsequently appointed to Tuʻiʻonetoa's Cabinet as Minister for Internal Affairs.[5]

He was re-elected in the 2021 election,[6] but not reappointed to Cabinet.

In February 2024 he was charged with indecent assault.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Hon. Vatau Hui". Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Landslide victory for Democrats in Tongan election". New Zealand Herald. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Tongan MP fined for electoral infringement". RNZ. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Parliament elects Dr Pōhiva Tu'i'onetoa as new PM". The World News. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Prime Minister Announces New Cabinet Ministers". Government of Tonga. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "Tongan MP Vātau Hui charged with indecent assault of a woman: reports". Kaniva Tonga. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.