Toke Talagi

Who is Toke Talagi?

Sir Toke Tufukia Talagi was a Niuean politician who served as Premier of Niue for four consecutive terms, from 2008 until 2020, while also holding the Foreign Affairs portfolio. Born on 9 January 1951 in Alofi, he was educated at Tufukia School on Niue, Nelson College in New Zealand, and Massey University, where he earned a Bachelor of Agricultural Science. He returned home to work as a livestock development officer, later serving on the Alofi South Village Council, as Niue's first Consul General in Auckland from 1981 to 1984, and as president of the Niue Rugby Football Union. He entered the Niue Assembly in 1999 and served as Minister of Finance before being elected Premier in 2008, defeating Young Vivian. As Premier he introduced a consumption tax to balance the national budget, established diplomatic relations with China, chaired the Pacific Islands Forum in 2008, and pushed for Niue to become fully solar-powered while advocating internationally for climate action. He published an autobiography, Niue Rising, in 2019, and was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2017. He died in Alofi in July 2020, shortly after leaving office.

Sources: Toke Talagi — Wikipedia biographical summary · RNZ News, "Former Niue premier Sir Toke Talagi dies after lengthy illness" (2020) · Talagi, Toke, Niue Rising (autobiography, 2019)