Lavaka Ata 'Ulukalala
Encyclopedia
Prince Ahoeitu Unuakiotonga Tukuaho (born 12 July 1959), is the younger brother of King George Tupou V
of Tonga
and officially confirmed by the latter on 27 September 2006 as the Heir Presumptive
to the Tongan throne. As of August 2008, he is also Tonga's High Commissioner to Australia, and resides in Canberra
.
. He started his career in the military, joining the naval arm of the Tonga Defence Services
in 1982 and becoming a Lieutenant-Commander in 1987. From 1990 to 1995 he commanded the Pacific-class patrol boat VOEA Pangai and his time in charge included peacekeeping operations in Bougainville
.
In 1998 he ended his military career to become part of the government, first as the defence minister
and the foreign minister
at the same time, from October 1998 until August 2004. He took over these posts from his elder brother Siaosi Tupou V, at that time still the crown prince and as such known as Tupoutoa (see below). Soon he was appointed on 3 January 2000, as the prime minister, a function he kept until his sudden resignation on 11 February 2006, for which the reason has never become clear, but was most likely due to the unrest in the country since mid-2005, a series of pro-democracy protests calling for a lesser role for the royal family in government. His appointed successor, Feleti Sevele
, is Tonga's first prime minister who is not a hereditary estate holder or a member of the aristocracy (made of 33 noble titles).
Ahoeitu is married to a daughter of the high chief Vaea
, Nanasipauu and the couple has 3 children:Angelika Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu Mataaho Napuaokalani Tukuaho
that princes get a traditional chiefly title, by which they then are commonly known (and no longer by their baptised name). As such for many years, until his confirmation as heir presumptive, Ahoeitu was known by either one or all three of the titles which were bestowed on him over the time: Lavaka from Pea, Ata from Kolovai
and Atatā, and Ulukālala
from Vavau
. These titles may be used in any order, (the one belonging to the area from which the speaker is coming usually first). Nevertheless the sequences Lavaka Ata Ulukālala and Ulukālala Lavaka Ata were most common.
Since his confirmation as heir presumptive, he got the traditional title of Tupoutoa, reserved for crown princes, which his older brother (the second) had to give up because he married a commoner, while two of his previous titles went to his sons. As such he is currently known as Tupoutoa Lavaka. His oldest son, Siaosi, is to be addressed by the prestigious title of Ulukālala, while his second son, Viliami, was bestowed with Ata.
George Tupou V
George Tupou V , is the current King of Tonga.-Early life:...
of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
and officially confirmed by the latter on 27 September 2006 as the Heir Presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
to the Tongan throne. As of August 2008, he is also Tonga's High Commissioner to Australia, and resides in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
Life
He was born the third son and youngest child of the late King Tāufaāhau Tupou IVTaufa'ahau Tupou IV
Tāufaāhau Tupou IV, King of Tonga, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, KStJ son of Queen Sālote Tupou III and her consort Prince Viliami Tungī Mailefihi, was the king of Tonga from the death of his mother in 1965 until his own death in 2006...
. He started his career in the military, joining the naval arm of the Tonga Defence Services
Tonga Defence Services
The Tonga Defense Services is the armed force of Tonga. It is composed of three operational command components, two support elements ....
in 1982 and becoming a Lieutenant-Commander in 1987. From 1990 to 1995 he commanded the Pacific-class patrol boat VOEA Pangai and his time in charge included peacekeeping operations in Bougainville
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
.
In 1998 he ended his military career to become part of the government, first as the defence minister
Defence minister
A defence minister is a person in a cabinet position in charge of a Ministry of Defence, which regulates the armed forces in some sovereign nations...
and the foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
at the same time, from October 1998 until August 2004. He took over these posts from his elder brother Siaosi Tupou V, at that time still the crown prince and as such known as Tupoutoa (see below). Soon he was appointed on 3 January 2000, as the prime minister, a function he kept until his sudden resignation on 11 February 2006, for which the reason has never become clear, but was most likely due to the unrest in the country since mid-2005, a series of pro-democracy protests calling for a lesser role for the royal family in government. His appointed successor, Feleti Sevele
Feleti Sevele
Feleti Vakaʻuta Sevele , styled Lord Sevele of Vailahi was the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga from 30 March 2006 to 22 December 2010.-Early life:Sevele was born in Ma’ufanga, Nuku’alofa...
, is Tonga's first prime minister who is not a hereditary estate holder or a member of the aristocracy (made of 33 noble titles).
Ahoeitu is married to a daughter of the high chief Vaea
Baron Vaea of Houma
Siaosi Tuʻihala ʻAlipate Vaea Tupou, who was more commonly known as Baron Vaea, was a Prime Minister of Tonga. Vaea was a nephew of Queen Salote, who ruled Tonga from 1918 until 1965, and a member of the Tongan nobility...
, Nanasipauu and the couple has 3 children:Angelika Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu Mataaho Napuaokalani Tukuaho
- Siaosi Manumataongo Alaivahamamao Ahoeitu Konstantin Tukuaho (also written as Jiaoji ... Konftantin ...; it is not known whether this is an error or intended. It would make sense if it were ... Konſtantin ... (with the old long ess), but this character is unknown in Tongan, and as such not recognised (at least by any of the Tongan references))
- Viliami Unuaki-o-Tonga Mumui Lalaka-Mo-e-Eiki Tukuaho
Name and titles
It is customary in Tongan cultureCulture of Tonga
The Tongan archipelago has been inhabited for perhaps 3000 years, since settlement in late Lapita times. The culture of its inhabitants has surely changed greatly over this long time period. Before the arrival of European explorers in the late 17nd and early 18th centuries, the Tongans were in...
that princes get a traditional chiefly title, by which they then are commonly known (and no longer by their baptised name). As such for many years, until his confirmation as heir presumptive, Ahoeitu was known by either one or all three of the titles which were bestowed on him over the time: Lavaka from Pea, Ata from Kolovai
Kolovai
Kolovai is a village on the Tongan island of Tongatapu. Its 2006 population was 4,098.The village is notable for its lakalaka, the national dance of Tonga. A national monument has been proposed to preserve the site of the koka tree where members of the Tu'i Kanokupolu dynasty received investiture....
and Atatā, and Ulukālala
Finau 'Ulukalala
Fīnau Ulukālala was a dynasty of 6 important hereditary chiefs from Vavau , currently in the kingdom of Tonga. Started somewhere in the 18th century, died out in 1960...
from Vavau
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...
. These titles may be used in any order, (the one belonging to the area from which the speaker is coming usually first). Nevertheless the sequences Lavaka Ata Ulukālala and Ulukālala Lavaka Ata were most common.
Since his confirmation as heir presumptive, he got the traditional title of Tupoutoa, reserved for crown princes, which his older brother (the second) had to give up because he married a commoner, while two of his previous titles went to his sons. As such he is currently known as Tupoutoa Lavaka. His oldest son, Siaosi, is to be addressed by the prestigious title of Ulukālala, while his second son, Viliami, was bestowed with Ata.
Career highlights
- 2008–present - High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia
- 2006 - Resigns unexpectedly as Prime Minister and from his other cabinet posts.
- 2004 - Minister of Civil Aviation; Minister responsible for Communications; Minister of Defence; Minister of Marine and Ports; Minister of Works and Disaster Relief Activities
- 2001 - Minister of Civil Aviation & Minister of Communications
- 2000 - Prime Minister, Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, Minister of Fisheries, Minister of Marine and Ports
- 1998 - Minister for Foreign Affairs & Defence
- 1991-1995 - Commander of the Navy, Tonga Defence Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defence
Education
- 1998 - Master of Arts in International Relations, Bond UniversityBond UniversityBond University is a private university located in Robina, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is also the first private university established in Australia...
, Queensland, Australia - 1997 - Masters in Defence Studies, University of New South WalesUniversity of New South WalesThe University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, Australia - 1995 - Graduate Diploma of Strategic Studies, Australian Joint Services Staff College, Australia
- 1988 - Diploma in Strategic Studies, United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
- 1977 - GCE 'A' Level, The Leys SchoolThe Leys SchoolThe Leys School is a co-educational Independent school, located in Cambridge, England, and is a day and boarding school for about 550 pupils aged between 11 and 18 years...
, Cambridge, UK