Tongatapu 9 | |
---|---|
Constituency for the Legislative Assembly of Tonga | |
Region | Tongatapu |
Electorate | 2,959 |
Current constituency | |
Created | 2010 |
Number of members | 1 |
Party | Independent |
Member(s) | Sevenitini Toumoʻua |
Tongatapu 9 is an electoral constituency for the Legislative Assembly in the Kingdom of Tonga. It was established for the November 2010 general election, when the multi-seat regional constituencies for People's Representatives were replaced by single-seat constituencies, electing one representative via the first past the post electoral system. It is a rural constituency located in the south-east of the island of Tongatapu, and covers the villages of Tatakamotonga, Holonga, ʻAlakifonua, Pelehake, Toloa, Fuaʻamotu, Nakolo, Haʻasini, Hamula, Lavengatonga, Fatumu and Haveluliku.[1][2]
Its first ever representative was Kaveinga Faʻanunu, a first term MP from the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, who won it in the November 2010 general election, and died of cancer seven months later, in July 2011.[3][4][5] A by-election was held on September 15, 2011 - the first for any seat since the 2010 general election. The Democratic Party retained the seat, with its candidate Falisi Tupou winning by a substantial margin.[3][6] It appears, at present, to be a safe seat for the party.