Taukelina Finikaso

Taukelina Finikaso (born 10 January 1959) is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. At the 2006 general election, he was elected MP for his home constituency of Vaitupu. He was educated in Kiribati and Fiji before acquiring a Law Degree at the University of Tasmania and a master's degree in International Law from Sydney University. Finikaso was admitted on 16 October 1987 to the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. Prior to entering into politics, Finikaso worked as a lawyer and then as a Permanent Secretary under the different ministries of the Government. Finikaso has been a Member of Parliament for the Constituency of Vaitupu from 2006 to 2019. He was not re-elected in the 2019 general election.^[1]

Hon. Taukelina Taui Finikaso MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade, Tourism, Environment and Labour
In office 5 August 2013 – 9 September 2019
Prime Minister	Enele Sopoaga
Preceded by	Apisai Ielemia
Succeeded by	Simon Kofe
Member of the Tuvaluan Parliament for Vaitupu
In office 3 August 2006 – 9 September 2019
Preceded by	Leti Pelesala
Succeeded by	Nielu Meisake
Personal details
Born	(1959-01-10) 10 January 1959 (age 65) Vaitupu, Gilbert and Ellice Islands[citation needed]
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Risasi Finikaso
Children	Tusi, Lise, Petesa, Samasoni

Career

1987–1992: Crown-Counsel in the Attorney General's Office; 1992–1994: Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources; 1994–1996: Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs & Labour; 1996–1997: Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Human Resources Development; 1997: Established the office for the Trade Commissioner in Asia, based in Hong-Kong; 1997–1998: Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health, Women and Community Affairs; 1998–1999: Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Works, Energy and Communications; 2000–2005: Tuvalu's High Commissioner to Fiji.^[2]

Ministerial offices

Newly elected Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia initially appointed him Minister of Communications and Works,^[3][4] then as Minister for Communications, Transport and Tourism.^[3]

At the September 2010 general election, Finikaso was re-elected as MP for Vaitupu.^[5] Maatia Toafa was elected to the premiership,^[6] and appointed Finikaso as part of his Cabinet, with the portfolio of Minister for Communications, Transport and Fisheries.^[7] He lost office just three months later, when Toafa's government was brought down by a motion of no confidence.^[6][8]

Taukelina Finikaso was appointed the Foreign Minister on 5 August 2013;^[9] and served as the minister during the Sopoaga Ministry.

Political offices
Preceded by Apisai Ielemia	Foreign Minister of Tuvalu 2013–2019	Succeeded by Simon Kofe

See also

• Tuvalu portal

• List of foreign ministers in 2017
• Foreign relations of Tuvalu
• Politics of Tuvalu

References

1. Tahana, Jamie (10 September 2019). "Tuvalu elections: large turnover for new parliament". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
2. "NEW TUVALU HIGH COMMISSIONER FINIKASO THANKS FIJI PM QARASE". Pacific Islands Report. 22 June 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
3. "Tuvalu-news.tv". Apisai Ielemia New Prime Minister. 16 August 2006. Archived from the original on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
4. "Tuvalu elects Apisai Ielemia as new prime minister". RNZ. 15 August 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
5. "Current Members (including Ministers and Private Members)". The Parliament of Tuvalu. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
6. "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
7. "New Tuvalu PM Maatia Toafa names cabinet", ABC Radio Australia, 29 September 2010
8. "Willie Telavi the new prime minister in Tuvalu". Radio New Zealand. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
9. "Enele Sopoaga Sworn-in Today as Tuvalu's New PM". Islands Business. 5 August 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.