Moʻale Finau

Moʻale Finau (born February 10, 1960^[1]) is a Tongan politician and Cabinet Minister.

Moʻale Finau
Finau in 2016
Minister for Justice
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 January 2025
Prime Minister	ʻAisake Eke
Preceded by	Samiu Vaipulu
Minister for Tourism
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 January 2025
Preceded by	Viliami Latu
Governor of Ha'apai
In office 9 February 2015 – 26 June 2018
Prime Minister	ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Preceded by	Havea Tu‘iha‘angana
Succeeded by	Mohenoa Puloka
Member of Parliament for Haʻapai 12
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 September 2022
Preceded by	Viliami Hingano
In office 16 November 2017 – 18 November 2021
Preceded by	Viliami Hingano
Succeeded by	Viliami Hingano
In office 25 November 2010 – 27 November 2014
Preceded by	none (constituency established)
Succeeded by	Viliami Hingano
Majority	11.1%
Personal details
Born	10 February 1960
Political party	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands

He is a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.

Finau has a Master of Arts degree in Geography and a Certificate in Law.^[1] He worked as a teacher, businessman and leadership training officer before entering politics.^[1] He stood unsuccessfully as an independent for the seat of Haʻapai in both the 2005^[2] and 2008^[3] general elections. In the 2010 general election he stood in the new Haʻapai 12 constituency for the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, and was elected with 31.9% of the vote.^[4] He lost the seat by 4 votes in the 2014 election.

In February 2015, Finau was appointed Governor of Ha'apai.^[5] In May 2016 he was charged with careless driving after injuring a man while driving in Tongatapu.^[6] In September 2017 the Auditor-General found that he had unlawfully spent T$150,000 from a community development fund on his own projects.^[7]

He was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2017 Tongan general election. He lost his seat again in the 2021 Tongan general election.^[8] He was re-elected in the 2022 Ha’apai 12 by-election.^[9][10]

On 28 January 2025 he was appointed to the cabinet of ʻAisake Eke as Minister for Justice and Minister for Tourism.^[11]

References

1. "Mo'ale Finau". Parliament of Tonga. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
2. "KINGDOM OF TONGA LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS OF 17 MARCH 2005". Adam Carr. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
3. "KINGDOM OF TONGA LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS OF 24 APRIL 2008". Adam Carr. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
4. 2010 general election results, Matangi Tonga
5. "Commoner becomes governor of Tonga's Ha'apai". Radio New Zealand International. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
6. "Ha'apai Governor charged with careless driving after man injured". Kaniva Tonga. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
7. "Haʻapai governor regarded development fund as a blessing for his own projects, report says". Kaniva Tonga. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
8. "Tonga elects all-male parliament with nine new People's Reps". Matangi Tonga. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
9. "Acting Speaker congratulates Mo'ale Finau on winning Ha'apai 12 by-election". Legislative Assembly of Tonga. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
10. Linny Folau (7 September 2022). "Mo'ale Finau wins Ha'apai 12 By-Election". Matangi Tonga. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
11. "Tonga PM 'Aisake Eke unveils new Cabinet: two women and one noble among the ministers". RNZ. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.