PEOPLE’S REPRESENTATIVE FOR NIUA 17 CONSTITUENCY CONTINUES AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY PENDING THE DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEAL

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF TONGA

PRESS RELEASE

PEOPLE’S REPRESENTATIVE FOR NIUA 17 CONSTITUENCY CONTINUES AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY PENDING THE DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEAL

The People’s Representative for the Niua 17 Constituency, Hon. Lataifaingata’a Tangimana, retains his seat as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga pending the decision of the Court of Appeal.

On 9 April 2026, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly received a Certificate from the Honourable Justice Garlick KC certifying that the Supreme Court has declared the election of the People’s Representative for Niua 17 void as a result of an Election Petition (CV54/2025

Finau v Tangimana). On this basis, a notice was issued to Members of Parliament on 13 April 2026 for the Legislative Assembly to meet on the 27 April 2026. This was a meeting scheduled for the People’s Representative for Niua 17, Hon Lataifaingata’a Tangimana to be unseated as a result of the certification received from Hon. Justice Garlick KC. That was the only agenda for the meeting.

The meeting of the 27 April 2026 has now been cancelled, due to another letter from the Honourable Justice Garlick KC that was subsequently received on Monday 20 April 2026. His Honour conveyed a Court Ruling dated 11 April 2026. The Ruling granted a stay of execution of the Certificate issued by the Court on the 9 April 2026, the result of the Electoral Petition (CV54/2025 Finau v Tangimana). This is a stay of execution pending a decision on the appeal of this matter which has been filed with the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal will convene in July 2026. Pursuant to the Court Ruling dated 11 April 2026, the Legislative Assembly will stay the execution of the Certificate issued by the Court on the 9 April 2026. This means that the Legislative Assembly  will  not unseat  the  People’s Representative for Niua 17  from  his parliamentary seat, until a decision is made by the Court of Appeal.

Issued by the Chief Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

24 April 2026

Office of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Nuku’alofa, Tonga