Dalton Tagelagi

The Honourable
Dalton Tagelagi
Tagelagi in 2023
Prime Minister of Niue
Incumbent
Assumed office
11 June 2020
Governor-GeneralPatsy Reddy
Cindy Kiro
Preceded byToke Talagi
Minister for Natural Resources
In office
May 2017 – June 2020
PremierToke Talagi
Preceded byBilly Talagi
Member of the Niue Assembly from Alofi South
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 2008
Personal details
Born
Dalton Emani Makamau Tagelagi

(1968-06-05) 5 June 1968 (age 56)
Alofi, Niue
Political partyIndependent
OccupationBowler
Politician

Dalton Emani Makamau Tagelagi[1] (born 5 June 1968) is a Niuean politician and Prime Minister of Niue (also still referred to as the Premier) since June 2020. He was elected premier by the Niue Legislative Assembly on 11 June 2020, defeating O'Love Jacobsen by 13 votes to 7.[2]

Tagelagi is the son of Sam Pata Emani Tagelagi, who served as Speaker of the Niue Legislative Assembly from 1976 to 1993.[2]

Bowls career

He has competed in bowls for Niue, at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow[3] and the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.[4] In 2022, he competed in the men's pairs and the men's fours at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.[5][6]

Political career

Dalton Tagelagi with the Governor-General of New Zealand, Dame Cindy Kiro, in 2022

Tagelagi was first elected to the Niue Assembly at the 2008 Niuean general election. Following the 2014 Niuean general election he was appointed Minister of Infrastructure.[7][8] He was re-elected at the 2017 Niuean general election,[9][10] and subsequently served as Minister for the Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.[2][11] As Environment Minister he represented Niue at the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference, calling for rich nations to show greater ambition.[12]

He was re-elected in the 2020 Niuean general election and subsequently elected premier. After being elected he announced that his first priority would be investigating government finances.[13] As Premier his government ratified the PACER Plus regional trade agreement.[14] During the COVID-19 pandemic he negotiated a one-way travel-bubble allowing Niueans to travel to New Zealand,[15] and oversaw a vaccination program which saw Niue gain full herd immunity to the virus.[16][17] In November 2021 he began a one-year term as Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific.[18][19] His tenure concluded in June 2022, and he was succeeded by Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II.[20]

He was re-elected unopposed to the Assembly at the 2023 election.[21] He was subsequently re-elected as Premier, defeating O'Love Jacobsen 16 votes to 4.[22] He appointed his Cabinet on 12 May 2023, the first gender-balanced Cabinet in Niuean history.[23][24]

References

  1. ^ "Dalton Emani Makamau TAGELAGI". Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Dalton Tagelagi voted in as new Premier of Niue". RNZ. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Dalton Tagelagi". G2014results.thecgf.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Dalton TAGELAGI". Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Dalton Emani Makamau TAGELAGI". Birmingham2022.com. Birmingham Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games Limited. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Dalton Emani Makamau TAGELAGI". Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  7. ^ "GOVERNMENT OF NIUE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER" (PDF). Gov.nu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  8. ^ Lealaiauloto Aigaletaulealea Tauafiafi (30 April 2014). "Premier Toke Talagi announces Niue Govt and cabinet portfolios". Pacific Guardians. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Office of the Premier". Government of Niue. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Election 17 Provisional Results". TalaNiue. TalaNiue.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Cabinet Ministers and Portfolios". Government of Niue. Archived from the original on 7 March 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Niue, one of the smallest countries in the world, sends a loud message at COP25". SPREP. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Finances on agenda of new Niue Premier". RNZ. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Niue ratifies regional PACER Plus trade agreement". RNZ. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Quarantine-free travel from Niue to NZ to begin this month". RNZ. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  16. ^ Torika Tokalau (7 July 2021). "Covid-19: Niue days from full vaccination, travel bubble in place by end of year". Stuff. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Niue achieves herd immunity for Covid-19". RNZ. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Niue Premier Dalton Tagelagi installed as 28th USP Chancellor". Loop. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Premier Tagelagi installed as the 28th Chancellor of USP at the largest graduation ceremony in Niue's history". TVNiue. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  20. ^ "Current Chancellor". www.usp.ac.fj. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  21. ^ Esther Pavihi (14 April 2023). "List of candidates for the 2023 General Elections released; Tagelagi duly elected with 5 others". TV Niue. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Dalton Tagelagi re-elected premier of Niue". RNZ. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Dalton Tagelagi forms Niue's first gender-balanced Cabinet". RNZ. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  24. ^ Esther Pavihi (12 May 2023). "Premier Tagelagi announce first gender- balanced Cabinet". TV Niue. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
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Political offices
Preceded by Premier of Niue
2020–present 		Incumbent
Academic offices
Preceded by Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific
2021–2022 		Succeeded by