25 Facts About Toke Talagi

Sir Toke Tufukia Talagi was a Niuean politician, diplomat, and statesman.

Toke Talagi served as Premier of Niue from 2008 to 2020.

Toke Talagi was elected premier in the 2008 general election.

Toke Talagi unsuccessfully ran for a fifth-term in 2020 and was replaced by Dalton Tagelagi.

Toke Talagi was born in Alofi and was educated at Tufukia School in Niue and Nelson College in New Zealand.

Toke Talagi studied at Massey University in Palmerston North, where he completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science.

Toke Talagi married his wife, and they had their first child.

Toke Talagi later became president of the Niue Public Service Association, and from 1981 to 1984 he was Niue's first Consul General in Auckland.

Toke Talagi ran unsuccessfully for a common roll seat in the 1996 Niuean general election.

Toke Talagi was elected to the Niue Assembly in the 1999 election and was immediately appointed an associate Minister with responsibility for economic development and civil aviation in the Cabinet of Sani Lakatani.

Toke Talagi spent the remainder of the term as a member of the opposition.

The final result showed an exact tie, and Toke Talagi was declared elected after his name was drawn from a hat.

Toke Talagi was re-elected at the 2008 election, topping the common roll in what was seen as a vote for change.

Toke Talagi was elected Premier on 19 June 2008, defeating Young Vivian by fourteen votes to five, with one abstaining.

At the next forum meeting in 2009 Toke Talagi suggested that Fijians should take responsibility for their destiny and rise up against the military regime.

In May 2009, Toke Talagi co-chaired the 5th Pacific Alliance Leaders Meeting with then Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso in Hokkaido.

Toke Talagi was re-elected at the 2011 election and re-elected as Premier.

Toke Talagi was again re-elected Premier after the 2014 election.

Toke Talagi was re-elected at the 2017 election and again elected Premier.

In 2019 he spent several more months in Auckland recovering from illness, and on his return his brother Billy Toke Talagi continued as acting Premier.

Toke Talagi kept a low profile during the campaign, and failed to win a seat.

On 9 July 2020, Toke Talagi was again medevaced to New Zealand for treatment of a long-term illness.

Toke Talagi died at the Niue Foou Hospital in Alofi on 15 July 2020, shortly after returning to Niue.

Toke Talagi was given a state funeral at the Alofi Ekalesia church on 28 July 2020.

Toke Talagi received his knighthood from New Zealand Governor General Patsy Reddy in March 2017, who flew to Niue for the ceremony.