Paula Piukala

Paula Piveni Piukala is a Tongan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.

Paula Piukala
Minister for Public Enterprises
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 January 2025
Preceded by	Siaosi Sovaleni
Minister for Police, Fire & Emergency Services
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 January 2025
Preceded by	Siaosi Sovaleni
Member of the Tongan Parliament for Tongatapu 7
Incumbent
Assumed office 3 November 2022
Preceded by	Sione Sangster Saulala
Personal details
Political party	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands

Piukala works in the information technology industry, including as a computer systems manager for Shoreline Group. In March 2005 he became a whistleblower against Shoreline, alleging financial mismanagement, falsified audits, and exorbitant salaries paid to the company's executives, which included Crown Prince Tupouto‘a (later George Tupou V).^[1] The allegations led to a court case and protests against Shoreline from the Human Rights and Democracy Movement.^[1] He later worked as director of Tonga Cable.^[2]

At the 2021 Tongan general election he sought the PTOA nomination for Tongatapu 7, but a factional dispute inside the PTOA saw him lose to Sione Sangster Saulala.^[3] He contested the election anyway, but lost.^[4] Following the election he challenged Saulala's election in court,^[5] resulting in the latter's election being voided for bribery.^[6][7][8] Piukala was elected in the subsequent 2022 Tongatapu 7 by-election.^[9][10]

In February 2024 he was suspended from parliament for seven days after offending Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni during a heated debate on Lulutai Airlines.^[11] The suspension was later reduced, and Piukala resumed his seat on 26 February.^[12]

On 28 January 2025 he was appointed to the cabinet of ʻAisake Eke as Minister for Public Enterprises and Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services.^[13]