‘Utoikamanu is a graduate of the University of Auckland. She received her Bachelor of Commerce in Economics degree in 1980 and her Master of Commerce in Economics in 1983. She worked in Tonga's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1991 to 2002, then as Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 2002 to 2005.[1]
In April 2009, she stepped down from her ambassadorial duties, both in the United Nations and the four countries above, and was appointed Deputy Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.[8][9] While at the Pacific Community, she served as deputy pro-chancellor and deputy chair of council of the University of the South Pacific.[10] In 2016 she was appointed chief executive of Tonga's Ministry of Tourism.
On 28 December 2021 she was appointed to the Cabinet of Siaosi Sovaleni as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Tourism.[12] She was the only woman in Cabinet, and the only minister from outside the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.[13]
On 2 February 2024 the king purported to revoke ʻUtoikamanu appointment as a minister, as well as prime minister Siaosi Sovaleni's position as armed forces minister.[14][15][16] Attorney-General Linda Folaumoetu'i advised the Cabinet that the decision was unconstitutional.[17][18]
On 4 April 2024 Prime Minister Sovaleni announced that she had resigned her cabinet portfolios, effective from 28 March.[19]
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