Opili Talafasi

Opili Talafasi
Member of the Niuean Parliament
for Hikutavake
In office
7 April 1990 – 29 April 2023
Succeeded byIan Hipa

Opili Talafasi is a former Niuean politician who served as a Member of the Niue Assembly for 33 years, from 1990 to 2023.

Talafasi was first elected to the Assembly in the 1990 Niuean general election.[1] At the 1996 election he tied with his opponent, Lagaloga Mitikose, but won the seat when his name was drawn from a hat.[2]

He was narrowly re-elected at the 2011 election, but his re-election led to violence[3][4] and his son's house was burned down in an arson attack.[5] Continuing disputes over the violence saw Talafasi lock the village out of the local church for several months.[6][7]

He was re-elected at the 2020 election,[8] but lost his seat by a single vote at the 2023 election.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Esther Pavihi (1 May 2023). "Two long serving MPs Terry Coe and Opili Talafasi will not be returning to the next Niue Legislative Assembly". TV Niue. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  2. ^ Stephen Levine (Spring 1997). "Niue in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 1995 to 30 June 1996" (PDF). The Contemporary Pacific. 9 (1): 238. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Four men in Niue to stand trial over election night trouble". RNZ. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Niue men to be sentenced in High Court next year". RNZ. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Niue MP's son house allegedly torched after poll". RNZ. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Niue church still closed following lockout". RNZ. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Niue row again closes village church". RNZ. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Niue's Covid election: MP wins seat on coin toss as lawn bowls king becomes leader". The Guardian. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2023.


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