Mele Siuʻilikutapu

HRH Princess Mele Siuʻilikutapu (born 12 May 1948) is a Tongan royal and former politician. In 1975 she was elected to the Legislative Assembly, becoming its first female member.

Mele Siuʻilikutapu
Member of the Legislative Assembly
In office
1975–1978
ConstituencyTongatapu
Personal details
Born (1948-05-12) 12 May 1948

Biography

Siu’ilikutapu was born in May 1948, the oldest daughter of Prince Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake and his wife Melenaite Tupoumoheofo Veikune.[1][2] She attended the University of Auckland, where in October 1969 she married Josh Liava'a, a policeman.[3] As a result, King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV had her returned to Tonga and annulled the marriage. The following year she married Kalanivalu-Fotofili, a noble.[2]

In 1975 she contested the elections to the Legislative Assembly, and was elected as a people's representative in Tongatapu, becoming the country's first female parliamentarian.[4][5] She remained a member until 1978.[4]

She later became deputy president of the National Women's Organisation.[6]

gollark: This has been found to be isomorphic to Macron.
gollark: Just fix that and then do it.
gollark: Unless you just directly inject it through your skull.
gollark: Well, you might have to do it a bit beforehand, I assume.
gollark: My field is apiomemetics, apiology, and apiodynamics, not "medicine" on "humans".

References
  1. Margaret Hixon (1999) Sālote: Queen of Paradise, p135
  2. Married again (by royal consent) Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1970, p33
  3. Michael Field (2010) Swimming with Sharks p80
  4. Ian Christopher Campbell (2001) Island Kingdom: Tonga Ancient and Modern, p281
  5. Advancing Women’s Representation in Tonga A Woman’s Place is in the House
  6. Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Auckland Prayer Breakfast
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