Moʻale Finau
Tongan politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Moʻale Finau (born 10 February 1960[1]) is a Tongan politician and former Cabinet Minister.
Moʻale Finau | |
|---|---|
Finau in 2016 | |
| Minister for Justice | |
| Assumed office 28 January 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | ʻAisake Eke |
| Preceded by | Samiu Vaipulu |
| Minister for Tourism | |
| Assumed office 28 January 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Viliami Latu |
| Governor of Haʻapai | |
| In office 9 February 2015 – 26 June 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | ʻAkilisi Pōhiva |
| Preceded by | Havea Tu‘iha‘angana |
| Succeeded by | Mohenoa Puloka |
| Member of Parliament for Haʻapai 12 | |
| In office 1 September 2022 – 20 January 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Viliami Hingano |
| Succeeded by | Saimone Vuki |
| In office 16 November 2017 – 18 November 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Viliami Hingano |
| Succeeded by | Viliami Hingano |
| In office 25 November 2010 – 27 November 2014 | |
| Preceded by | none (constituency established) |
| Succeeded by | Viliami Hingano |
| Majority | 11.1% |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 February 1960 |
| Party | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands |
He is a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.
Finau has a Master of Arts degree in Geography and a Certificate in Law.[1] He worked as a teacher, businessman and leadership training officer before entering politics.[1] He stood unsuccessfully as an independent for the seat of Haʻapai in both the 2005[2] and 2008[3] general elections. In the 2010 general election he stood in the new Haʻapai 12 constituency for the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, and was elected with 31.9% of the vote.[4] He lost the seat by 4 votes in the 2014 election.
In February 2015, Finau was appointed Governor of Ha'apai.[5] In May 2016 he was charged with careless driving after injuring a man while driving in Tongatapu.[6] In September 2017 the Auditor-General found that he had unlawfully spent T$150,000 from a community development fund on his own projects.[7]
He was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2017 Tongan general election. He lost his seat again in the 2021 Tongan general election.[8] He was re-elected in the 2022 Ha’apai 12 by-election.[9][10]
On 28 January 2025 he was appointed to the cabinet of ʻAisake Eke as Minister for Justice and Minister for Tourism.[11]
He lost his seat at the 2025 election.[12]
