Pita Tamindei (c. 1918 – June 1968) was a Papua New Guinean politician. He served as a member of the House of Assembly between 1964 and 1968.
Pita Tamindei | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the House of Assembly | |
| In office 1964–1968 | |
| Succeeded by | Pita Lus |
| Constituency | Maprik |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1918 Loneim, New Guinea |
| Died | June 1968 |
Biography edit
Tamindei was born around 1918 in Loneim, a village near Maprik.[1] He did not receive a formal education and became a coconut and coffee farmer and trader.[1] He was one of the early adopters of rice growing in the Sepik area, as well as trying gold mining.[1][2] He was also involved in the Mitpin Rural Progress Society.[1]
Prior to entering politics, he had served as a luluai (village headman).[1] He became the first president of Maprik Local Government Council in 1958, serving until 1960. He was then vice-president from 1961 until 1963, before briefly serving as president again in 1964.[1] In the first general elections under universal suffrage in 1964, he successfully contested the Maprik seat, becoming a member of the new House of Assembly. He ran for re-election in the February–March 1968 elections, but was heavily defeated by Pita Lus.[3]
Tamindei died in June 1968, aged around 50.[2] He was married with three children.[1]