Hon. Luani
Encyclopedia
Hon. Luani, birth name Sione Laumanuʻuli Luani (18 June 1959 – 12 May 2010) was a Tongan nobleman, Member of Parliament
, and the Governor
of Vavaʻu
.
(1972–1977) in Australia and played in the 1st XV Rugby Union
team in his final two years of school. He was selected for NSW schoolboy rugby union team
that won the 1977 National Title at T G Millner Field. In 1978 he attended Ohlone College
, Fremont, California
. Luani received a Bachelors Degree in Political Science
from the University of California, Berkeley
after studying there from 1979 until 1982. In 1999 he was awarded a Diploma in Public Sector Management from Massey University
in New Zealand
.
and served as a Senior Executive Officer and the Principal Training Officer. As Senior Tourist Officer he joined the Tonga Visitor’s Bureau in 1990, becoming Deputy Director of Tourism in 1997. He joined the Tonga Broadcasting Commission
in 2000 and rose to the office of Deputy General Manager.
. He has been a member of the Standing Committee on Finance since 2006 and since 2007 has been Chairman of the Special Parliamentary Select Committee on Political Reform. He was reelected to parliament in 2008.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, and the Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Vavaʻu
Vava'u
Vavau is an island chain of one large island and 40 smaller ones in Tonga. According to tradition Maui fished both Tongatapu and Vavau but put a little more effort into the former. Vavau rises 204 meters above sea level...
.
Education
Luani attended Newington CollegeNewington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(1972–1977) in Australia and played in the 1st XV Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team in his final two years of school. He was selected for NSW schoolboy rugby union team
Australia national schoolboy rugby union team
The Australian Schoolboys rugby union team is the national team for schoolboy rugby union players in Australia. Considered to be the pinnacle of schoolboy rugby in Australia, the team plays in fixtures against other national representative schoolboy teams from around the world...
that won the 1977 National Title at T G Millner Field. In 1978 he attended Ohlone College
Ohlone College
Ohlone College is a community college located in Fremont, California. It was established in 1965. Ohlone College is a single college, multi campus district serving the areas of Fremont, Newark, and Union City with its main campus and district office in Fremont...
, Fremont, California
Fremont, California
Fremont is a city in Alameda County, California. It was incorporated on January 23, 1956, from the merger of five smaller communities: Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs...
. Luani received a Bachelors Degree in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
after studying there from 1979 until 1982. In 1999 he was awarded a Diploma in Public Sector Management from Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Public service career
In 1985, Luani joined the Prime Minister’s OfficePrime Minister of Tonga
This is a list of Prime Ministers of Tonga from the establishment of that office in 1876 until the present day.-List of Premiers/Prime Ministers of Tonga :-External links:*...
and served as a Senior Executive Officer and the Principal Training Officer. As Senior Tourist Officer he joined the Tonga Visitor’s Bureau in 1990, becoming Deputy Director of Tourism in 1997. He joined the Tonga Broadcasting Commission
Tonga Broadcasting Commission
Tonga Broadcasting Commission is the first and largest broadcasting station in Tonga, solely owned by the government of Tonga. It operates two free-to-air TV channels , one AM commercial radio channel , one FM commercial radio channel , and a 24-hour Radio Australia relay channel...
in 2000 and rose to the office of Deputy General Manager.
Parliament
In 2006 Luani was elected as the Nobles No.2 Representative for Vava’u in the Legislative Assembly of TongaLegislative Assembly of Tonga
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has 30 members, 9 members elected for a three year term in multi-seat constituencies via the single non-transferable vote system, 9 members elected for a three year term by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga, 10 members of the Privy Council and 2 governors. The...
. He has been a member of the Standing Committee on Finance since 2006 and since 2007 has been Chairman of the Special Parliamentary Select Committee on Political Reform. He was reelected to parliament in 2008.