Tatafu Moeaki
Moeaki in 2016
Governor of National Reserve Bank of Tonga
Assumed office
20 December 2022
Preceded bySione Ngongo Kioa
Minister of Finance
In office
28 December 2021 – 10 August 2022
Prime MinisterSiaosi Sovaleni
Preceded byTevita Lavemaau
Succeeded byTiofilusi Tiueti
Minister for Revenue and Customs
In office
28 December 2021 – 10 August 2022
Preceded byTevita Lavemaau
Minister for Trade and Economic Development
In office
25 January 2021 – 28 December 2021
Prime MinisterPohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
Preceded bySamiu Vaipulu
Succeeded byViliami Latu
Member of Parliament
for Tongatapu 4
In office
18 November 2021 – 10 August 2022
Preceded byMateni Tapueluelu
Succeeded byMateni Tapueluelu

Tatafu Toma Moeaki (born 1972)[1] is a Tongan politician, former Cabinet Minister, and civil servant.

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

  1. 1 2 "Tatafu Moeaki new Finance CEO". Matangi Tonga. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Ministry of Finance CEO resigns". Matangi Tonga. 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 15 July 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "Tonga keen to modernise business registry". RNZ. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "King confirms key government appointments". Fangongo. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  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. ↑ "PM names new government". Matangi Tonga. 29 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "Another election result cancelled as Moeaki found guilty of bribery in Tongatapu 4 contest". Kaniva Tonga. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "Convicted Tongan MPs given stay by appeals". RNZ. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  10. ↑ "Appeals dismissed, three Cabinet Ministers elections void". Matangi Tonga. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "Tonga court dismisses three Cabinet Ministers' electoral fraud appeals; upholds former PM's appeal". Kaniva Tonga. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "Three Cabinet Ministers unseated". Matangi Tonga. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  13. ↑ "Ousted Finance Minister and convict Tatafu Moeaki stays in gov't as project manager". Kaniva Tonga. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  14. ↑ "Tatafu Moeaki, new Governor of National Reserve Bank of Tonga". Matangi Tonga. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
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