Mele Siuʻilikutapu
Princess Mele Siuʻilikutapu | |
---|---|
Member of the Legislative Assembly | |
Term | 1975 – 1978 |
Successor | Papiloa Foliaki |
Constituency | Tongatapu |
Born | Tonga | 12 May 1948
Spouse | Josh Liava'a (m. 1969 - div. 1969) Kalanivalu-Fotofili (m. 1970) |
House | House of Tupou |
Father | Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake |
Mother | Melenaite Tupoumoheofo Veikune |
Religion | Methodist 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
- Order of the Crown of Tonga, Grand Cross (31 July 2008).[7]
References[]
- ^ Margaret Hixon (1999) Sālote: Queen of Paradise, p135
- ^ a b Married again (by royal consent) Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1970, p33
- ^ Michael Field (2010) Swimming with Sharks p80
- ^ a b Ian Christopher Campbell (2001) Island Kingdom: Tonga Ancient and Modern, p281
- ^ Advancing Women’s Representation in Tonga A Woman’s Place is in the House
- ^ Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Auckland Prayer Breakfast
- ^ "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- 1948 births
- Living people
- Tongan royalty
- University of Auckland alumni
- Tongan women in politics
- Members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga