Tatafu Moeaki
Tongan politician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tatafu Toma Moeaki (born 1972)[1] is a Tongan politician, former Cabinet Minister, and civil servant.
Tatafu Moeaki | |
---|---|
Governor of National Reserve Bank of Tonga | |
Assumed office 20 December 2022 | |
Preceded by | Sione Ngongo Kioa |
Minister of Finance | |
In office 28 December 2021 – 10 August 2022 | |
Prime Minister | Siaosi Sovaleni |
Preceded by | Tevita Lavemaau |
Succeeded by | Tiofilusi Tiueti |
Minister for Revenue and Customs | |
In office 28 December 2021 – 10 August 2022 | |
Preceded by | Tevita Lavemaau |
Minister for Trade and Economic Development | |
In office 25 January 2021 – 28 December 2021 | |
Prime Minister | Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa |
Preceded by | Samiu Vaipulu |
Succeeded by | Viliami Latu |
Member of Parliament for Tongatapu 4 | |
In office 18 November 2021 – 10 August 2022 | |
Preceded by | Mateni Tapueluelu |
Succeeded by | Mateni Tapueluelu |
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]