Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa

Tu'i'onetoa succeeded Semisi Sika, who had served as acting prime minister, since the death of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva.

The Honourable Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
Tu’i’onetoa in 2020
17th Prime Minister of Tonga
In office 8 October 2019 – 27 December 2021
Monarch	Tupou VI
Deputy	Semisi Sika Sione Vuna Fa'otusia Lord Maʻafu
Preceded by	Semisi Sika (acting)
Succeeded by	Siaosi Sovaleni
Leader of the Tonga People's Party
In office 20 September 2019 – 18 March 2023
Preceded by	Party established
Other offices held Minister for Public Enterprises In office 10 October 2019 – 28 December 2021 Prime Minister Himself Succeeded by Poasi Tei Minister of Finance In office 4 January 2018 – 10 October 2019 Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva Preceded by Tevita Lavemaau Succeeded by Tevita Lavemaau Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industries In office 30 December 2014 – 4 January 2018 Succeeded by Tevita Tu'i Uata Minister for Revenue and Customs In office 6 March 2017 – September 2017 Preceded by Tevita Lavemaau Succeeded by Mateni Tapueluelu Minister for Police, Prisons and Fire Services In office 30 December 2014 – 6 March 2017 Succeeded by Mateni Tapueluelu
Member of the Tongan Parliament for Tongatapu 10
In office 27 November 2014 – 18 March 2023
Preceded by	Semisi Tapueluelu
Succeeded by	Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata
Personal details
Born	(1951-06-30)30 June 1951 Talafo’ou, Tonga
Died	18 March 2023(2023-03-18) (aged 71) United States
Political party	Tonga People's Party
Spouse	Hena Tuʻiʻonetoa
Alma mater	Monash University Institute of Certified Management Accountants

Born in Talafo’ou on 30 June 1951, Tu’i’onetoa graduated from Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand in 1982, and then the Monash University in 1993. He had a diploma in financial management and a master of business degree. He was also a certified management accountant.

Tu’i’onetoa joined the Tonga Civil Service in January 1979. He was the Official Liquidator of the Commercial Division of the Department of Justice in Hamilton, New Zealand. Between 1983 and 2014 he served as Tonga's Auditor. He was a Private Secretary to King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV from 1987–1988, and also clerk to the Privy Council during the same period. He ran unsuccessfully for parliament in the 2010 Tongan general election.

In the 2014 general election, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga to represent the constituency of Tongatapu 10. In the government of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva, he was Minister of Labor, Commerce and Industries, and Minister of Police, Prisons and Fire Services. In March 2017 he was appointed Minister of Revenue and Customs, replacing Tevita Lavemaau. He held that position until January 2018, when he was appointed Minister of Finance and National Planning.

On 27 September 2019, Tu’i’onetoa was elected prime minister by fifteen votes against eight for Semisi Sika, who served as acting prime minister. It was officially announced by King Tupou VI on 9 October 2019. He announced his Cabinet appointments on 10 October.

On 12 January 2021, Tu'i'onetoa survived a confidence vote in Parliament, by 13 votes to 9.

Tuʻiʻonetoa was re-elected to parliament in the 2021 election, and announced his candidacy for re-election as Prime Minister, but later withdrew as a contender to back ʻAisake Eke. He was succeeded as Prime Minister by Siaosi Sovaleni.

On 29 April 2022, the Supreme Court of Tonga declared his election void after finding he had bribed a women's group by offering them 50,000 Pa'anga. The conviction was stayed pending appeal on 26 May 2022. On 9 June 2022 he was again found to have committed bribery in a second election petition. On 9 August 2022 the Court of Appeal overturned both petitions.

Tuʻiʻonetoa died on 18 March 2023 in the United States, at the age of 71 while visiting the country for medical reasons.

National honours;

•   Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III, Commander (31 July 2008).