Tongatapu 9

Tongatapu 9
Constituency
for the Legislative Assembly of Tonga
RegionTongatapu
Electorate2,959
Current constituency
Created2010
Number of members1
PartyIndependent
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.

  1. ^ "Tongatapu 9 polling stations" Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, Parliament of Tonga
  2. ^ "Funeral for Tonga MP tomorrow". Radio New Zealand International. July 26, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Results of the November 2010 general election, Matangi Tonga
  4. ^ "Tongatapu MP dies", Matangi Tonga, July 25, 2011
  5. ^ "Tongatapu 9 MP passed away", Parliament of Tonga, July 25, 2011
  6. ^ "September 15 by-election for Tongatapu 9", Matangi Tonga, 5 August 2011