Hunuki Hunukitama

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Hunuki Hunukitama
Member of Niue Assembly
In office
April 2001 – July 2003
Preceded byHima Douglas
Succeeded by
Secretary to Premier of Niue
Preceded by?
Succeeded by?
Personal details
DiedJuly 2003
Limu Pools, Niue
Political partyIndependent

Hunuki Saletogia Hunukitama[1] (died July 2003[2]) was a Niuean politician and independent[3] member of the Niue Assembly from 2001 until his death in 2003. Prior to his election to the Assembly, Hunukitama served as the Secretary to the Premier of Niue.[4] Additionally, Hunukitama served in managerial roles across a number of governmental and business organizations.

Political career[]

Hunukitama was elected to a common roll seat in the Niue Assembly in a April 2001 by-election that occurred after MP Hima Douglas resigned to take an appointment as the High Commissioner of Niue to New Zealand,[3] defeating a Niue People's Party candidate by a significant margin.[3] Hunukitama was re-elected to the Niue Assembly in the 2002 Niuean general election as a common roll member.[5] In that year, Hunukitama ran against Young Vivian for Premier of Niue and lost 6 votes to 14.[6]

In 2002, Hunukitama and former Premier Sani Lakatani visited Baltimore, Maryland to broker a deal with a Korean group called the Christian Ambassador Mission Holy People University that wanted to set up a holy city in Niue that would act as the group's headquarters on 121 hectares of farmland in Vaiea.[7] The facility was planned to house 600 people, construct a temple, and be fully walled and guarded and disallow police access. In addition to meeting with the group, Hunukitama and others in the Niue government conducted background checks for the organization.[7][8]

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Hunukitama served as the Secretary to the Premier of Niue.[4]

Business career[]

Hunukitama was the inaugural chairman of the first Polynesian radio station in Auckland[3] and was a manager of the . As of 2001, Hunukitama was the chief executive officer of the Niue Growers Association, which markets taro grown in Niue on the Auckland market.[3]

Death[]

In July 2003, Hunukitama died at the Lord Liverpool Hospital after he collapsed at the Limu Reef pools. Hunukitama's family filed a formal complaint with the police regarding his treatment at the hospital.[2][9] The 2003 Niue Common Roll by-election was held in August 2003 to fill Hunukitama's seat in the Niue Assembly. defeated five other candidates, including Lofa Rex and Kupa Magatongia, to take the vacant position.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ "Niue National Youth Policy 2003–2008". Government of Niue – Department of Community Affairs. Government of Niue. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Formal complaint lodged over medical treatment of Niue MP who died earlier this year". Radio New Zealand. 17 October 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Independent Hunukitama Wins Niue By-Election". Niue Economic Review. Pacific Islands Development Program. Pacific Islands Report. 2 April 2001. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b Kaluwin, Chalapan; Kick, III, Charles; Aston, James (10 March 1999). Review of Socio-Economic & Environmental Impacts of Population, Resettlement, and Migration in Niue (PDF) (Report). Apia, Samoa: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme. p. 50.
  5. ^ "Niue's Election Inconclusive". Pacific Islands Report. 21 April 2002. Retrieved 9 November 2021 – via Radio Australia.
  6. ^ "One of world's smallest parliaments picks premier". Mail & Guardian. 2 May 2002. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Niue offered key to holy city". The New Zealand Herald. 19 July 2002. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Former Niue Premier Winding Down". Pacific Islands Report. Pacific Islands Development Program. 21 November 2002. Retrieved 14 March 2021 – via Niue Economic Review.
  9. ^ "Concerns expressed over treatment at Niue's hospital". Radio New Zealand. 3 November 2003. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  10. ^ "New common roll member in Niue after by-election". Radio New Zealand. 1 September 2003. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
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