Mele Siuʻilikutapu

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Princess Mele Siuʻilikutapu
Mele Siuʻilikutapu at Northcross Church.jpg
Member of the Legislative Assembly
Term1975 – 1978
SuccessorPapiloa Foliaki
ConstituencyTongatapu
Born (1948-05-12) 12 May 1948 (age 73)
Tonga
SpouseJosh Liava'a
(m. 1969 - div. 1969)
Kalanivalu-Fotofili
(m. 1970)
HouseHouse of Tupou
FatherFatafehi Tuʻipelehake
MotherMelenaite Tupoumoheofo Veikune
ReligionMethodist Christian

Princess Mele Siuʻilikutapu of Tonga (born 12 May 1948) is a Tongan royal and former politician. In 1975 she was elected to the Legislative Assembly, becoming its first female member.

Biography[]

Siu’ilikutapu was born in May 1948, the oldest daughter of Prince Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake and his wife Melenaite Tupoumoheofo Veikune.[1][2] She attended the University of Auckland, where in October 1969 she married Josh Liava'a, a policeman.[3] As a result, King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV had her returned to Tonga and annulled the marriage. The following year she married Kalanivalu-Fotofili, a noble.[2]

In 1975 she contested the to the Legislative Assembly, and was elected as a people's representative in Tongatapu, becoming the country's first female parliamentarian.[4][5] She remained a member until 1978.[4]

She later became deputy president of the National Women's Organisation.[6]

Honours[]

National honours

References[]

  1. ^ Margaret Hixon (1999) Sālote: Queen of Paradise, p135
  2. ^ a b Married again (by royal consent) Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1970, p33
  3. ^ Michael Field (2010) Swimming with Sharks p80
  4. ^ a b Ian Christopher Campbell (2001) Island Kingdom: Tonga Ancient and Modern, p281
  5. ^ Advancing Women’s Representation in Tonga A Woman’s Place is in the House
  6. ^ Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Auckland Prayer Breakfast
  7. ^ "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
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