Tongatapu 9 is an electoral constituency for the Legislative Assembly in the Kingdom of Tonga. It was established for the November 2010 general election, when the multi-seat regional constituencies for People's Representatives were replaced by single-seat constituencies, electing one representative via the first past the post electoral system. It is a rural constituency located in the south-east of the island of Tongatapu, and covers the villages of Tatakamotonga, Holonga, ʻAlakifonua, Pelehake, Toloa, Fuaʻamotu, Nakolo, Haʻasini, Hamula, Lavengatonga, Fatumu and Haveluliku.[1][2]

Tongatapu 9
Constituency
for the Legislative Assembly of Tonga
RegionTongatapu
Electorate2,959
Current constituency
Created2010
Number of members1
PartyIndependent
Member(s)Sevenitini Toumoʻua

Its first ever representative was Kaveinga Faʻanunu, a first term MP from the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, who won it in the November 2010 general election, and died of cancer seven months later, in July 2011.[3][4][5] A by-election was held on September 15, 2011 - the first for any seat since the 2010 general election. The Democratic Party retained the seat, with its candidate Falisi Tupou winning by a substantial margin.[3][6] It appears, at present, to be a safe seat for the party.

Members of Parliament edit

Election Member Party
2010 Kaveinga Faʻanunu Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
2011 by-election Falisi Tupou Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
2014 Penisimani Fifita Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
2017
2021 Sevenitini Toumoʻua Independent

Election results edit

2010 edit

Tongan general election, 2010: Tongatapu 9
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DPFI Kaveinga Faʻanunu 908 34.0
(unknown) Sevenitini Toumoʻua 414 15.5
(unknown) Viliami Fukofuka 262 9.8
(unknown) Filimone Fifita 241 9.0
(unknown) ʻAisake ʻEtimoni Tuʻiono 229 8.6
(unknown) Siaosi ʻEnosi Tuʻipulotu 147 5.5
(unknown) Semisi Kailahi 136 5.1
(unknown) Tonga Tongilava Lemoto 110 4.1
(unknown) ʻEpeli Taufa Kalemani 51 1.9
(unknown) Konisitutone Simana Kami 50 1.9
(unknown) Falati Papani 49 1.8
(unknown) Mosese Latu 22 0.8
(unknown) Sione ʻUmeahola Faeamani 21 0.8
(unknown) ʻOfa Fatai 18 0.7
(unknown) Samisoni Lotaki Kanongataʻa 15 0.6
Turnout 2673
Majority 494 18.5
DPFI win (new seat)

2011 by-election edit

Tongatapu 9 by-election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DPFI Falisi Tupou 745 32.83 -1.2%
(unknown) Sevenitini Toumoʻua 483 21.29 +5.8%
(unknown) Viliami Fukofuka 469 20.67 +10.9%
(unknown) Siaosi ʻEnosi Tuʻipulotu 254 11.20 +5.7%
(unknown) ʻEpeli Taufa Kalemani 199 8.77 +6.9%
(unknown) Konisitutone Simana Kami 119 5.24 +3.3%
Turnout 2,269 76.68%
Majority 262 11.55% -7%
DPFI hold Swing -1.2%

2014 edit

Along with five other incumbent DPFI MPs, Falisi Tupou was not selected as a DPFI candidate for this election, and announced he would be running as an independent candidate.[7]

Tongan general election, 2014: Tongatapu 9
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
(unknown)
Turnout

References edit

  1. ^ "Tongatapu 9 polling stations" Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, Parliament of Tonga
  2. ^ "Funeral for Tonga MP tomorrow". Radio New Zealand International. July 26, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Results of the November 2010 general election, Matangi Tonga
  4. ^ "Tongatapu MP dies", Matangi Tonga, July 25, 2011
  5. ^ "Tongatapu 9 MP passed away", Parliament of Tonga, July 25, 2011
  6. ^ "September 15 by-election for Tongatapu 9", Matangi Tonga, 5 August 2011
  7. ^ "6 members of the Democratic Party will stand as independents" Archived 2014-10-24 at the Wayback Machine, Tonga Daily News, 2 September 2014