Fofo Esera Tuisano is a Tokelauan politician serving as the Faipule of Fakaofo since March 2020. He was the 28th Ulu-o-Tokelau (head of government of Tokelau) from March 2020 to March 2021.
Fofo Tuisano | |
|---|---|
| 28th Ulu-o-Tokelau | |
| In office 9 March 2020 – 8 March 2021 | |
| Administrator | Ross Ardern |
| Preceded by | Kelihiano Kalolo |
| Succeeded by | Kelihiano Kalolo |
| Faipule of Fakaofo | |
| Assumed office 9 March 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Afega Gaualofa |
| Member of the General Fono | |
| Assumed office 9 March 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Afega Gaualofa |
Biography
editTuisano is from the island of Fakaofo, part of Tokelau.[1] He is married.[2] Prior to entering politics, he was active in the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).[3] In 2020, he ran for election as part of the 2020 Tokelauan general election to be the Faipule of his island and was elected, succeeding Afega Gaualofa and also becoming a member of the General Fono – the Tokelauan parliament.[4]
Although only just elected his island's Faipule, Tuisano was named the Ulu-o-Tokelau (head of government of Tokelau) for the one-year term from March 2020 to March 2021.[1] Working with Administrator of Tokelau Ross Ardern, Tuisano's term was marked by the territory's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] At the end of his term, he noted that "2020 has been a challenging year. I had only been elected for the first time as Faipule of Fakaofo and straight to the Ulu of Tokelau office in a global pandemic year that changed the norm for most countries in the world including Tokelau. It has been a difficult year but we successfully repatriated over 100 of our families back to Tokelau and held on to be one of the few countries in the world that is free of COVID-19."[1]
In March 2021, Tuisano was succeeded as Ulu-o-Tokelau by Kelihiano Kalolo.[1] He was re-elected Faipule and to the General Fono in 2023, being named the minister of transport and support services and minister of energy.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Tokelau opens parliament for 2021". Radio New Zealand. 10 March 2021.
- ^ "Te Afioga a te Ulu o Tokelau Fofo Tuisano ma te faletua kia Maihe Tuisano" [The Honorable Head of Tokelau Fofo Tuisano and his wife Maihe Tuisano]. Te Mana (in Samoan). 17 March 2020 – via Facebook.
- ^ "Pacific Regional Solid Waste Management Strategy 2010-2015" (PDF). Pacific Regional Environment Programme. 18 November 2009. p. 4.
- ^ "General election results for Tokelau announced". Radio New Zealand. 31 January 2020.
- ^ Lewis, Lydia (30 January 2023). "Results are in for the 2023 Tokelau national election". Radio New Zealand.
- ^ Lewis, Lydia (13 March 2023). "Tokelau welcomes new head of government". Radio New Zealand.