Frank Fakaotimanava Lui (19 November 1935 – 9 July 2021) was a Niuean politician, who served as the
premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier.
A premier will normally be a head of governm ...
of the
Pacific Island
Collectively called the Pacific Islands, the islands in the Pacific Ocean are further categorized into three major island groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Depending on the context, the term ''Pacific Islands'' may refer to one of se ...
state of
Niue
Niue (, ; niu, Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle between Tong ...
from 1993 to 1999.
Early life
Lui was raised by his grandparents on Niue after his parents and older siblings migrated to
Wellington
Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...
, New Zealand. His parents sent for him when he was nine years old and he attended
Newtown School Newtown School may refer to:
* Newtown School, Waterford
Newtown School is a multidenominational, coeducational independent school with both day and boarding pupils in Waterford, Ireland. It is run by a Board of Management, but owned by the Re ...
. Soon afterwards, he transferred to Naenae School in
Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt ( mi, Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai) is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. Administered by the Hutt City Council, it is one of the four cities that constitute the Wellington metropolitan area.
It is New Zealand's sixth most p ...
when his parents took the tenancy of a State house there. Lui left Naenae school in 1950 to attend Wellington High School (then Wellington Technical College).
On leaving school, he joined the New Zealand merchant navy, and was immediately caught up in the prolonged and acrimonious waterfront workers strike of 1951. He returned to Niue in 1956 to care for his grandparents and has lived there since. There, he was subjected to colonial discrimination which motivated him to political activity to change an oppressive, paternalistic system run by the New Zealand Government (e.g., "natives" of Niue were not permitted to buy liquor, and were paid wages lower than ex-patriate New Zealanders). He organised the first ever strike on Niue.
Political career
Lui was elected at the 1963 Niuean general election at the age of only 28, becoming the youngest ever person elected to the
Niue Assembly
The Niue Assembly ( niu, Niue Fono Ekepule) is the legislature of Niue. It consists of 20 members; 14 representatives of the villages and 6 elected on a common roll. Members are directly elected by universal suffrage, and serve a three-year t ...
. He lost his seat at the 1966 election, but was re-elected in
1969
This year is notable for Apollo 11's first landing on the moon.
Events January
* January 4 – The Government of Spain hands over Ifni to Morocco.
* January 5
**Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 701 crashes into a house on its approach to ...
. He was re-elected again in
1972
Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, me ...
and appointed Minister of Works and Police in the Cabinet of
Robert Rex
Sir Robert Richmond Rex (25 January 190912 December 1992) was the first Premier of the Pacific island state of Niue.
Early life and family
Rex was born to parents Leslie Lucas Richmond Rex, a European trader on Niue, and Fisimonomono Tufaina ...
. He was re-elected unopposed in the 1975 election and was appointed Minister of Electricity, Fisheries, Forests, Tourism, and Works. He served in a variety of other Cabinet positions over the next fifteen years. In September 1990, he was sacked from Cabinet after an attempt to oust Rex.
Premier
Following the death of
Robert Rex
Sir Robert Richmond Rex (25 January 190912 December 1992) was the first Premier of the Pacific island state of Niue.
Early life and family
Rex was born to parents Leslie Lucas Richmond Rex, a European trader on Niue, and Fisimonomono Tufaina ...
in December 1992,
Young Vivian
Mititaiagimene Young Vivian is a Niuean politician and diplomat, who served as Premier of Niue twice, the first time from December 1992 to March 1993 following the death of Sir Robert Rex, and the second from 2002 to 2008. He also served as a ...
was elected Premier. Lui was re-elected to the Assembly at the following 1993 election, and on 12 March was elected Premier, defeating Vivian 11 votes to 9. In March 1994, Finance Minister
Sani Lakatani
Sani Elia Lagigietama Lakatani (born 1936) is a former Premier of Niue. He was a member of the Niue People's Party.
Early life
Lakatani served in the New Zealand Army as a corporal. He was deployed to Vietnam as part of the Whiskey2 deployment ...
resigned from Cabinet, but was reinstated by Lui in the leadup to a confidence vote. Lakatani subsequently resigned from Cabinet on 8 November after losing the finance portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle. He joined the opposition, which organised itself into the
Niue People's Party
The Niue People's Party (also known as the Niue People's Action Party) was a political party in Niue. Founded in 1987 by Niueans living in New Zealand, it was disbanded in 2003. It was, during that time, the country's only political party.
The par ...
and effectively deadlocked the assembly. A series of tied confidence votes followed, and the government was effectively unable to pass legislation through the Assembly for the rest of its term. An attempt to break the deadlock by declaring the seats of opposition MPs vacant was ultimately declared illegal by the
Niue Court of Appeal
Niue (, ; niu, Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about and its population, predominantly Polynesians, Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle b ...
.
In the 1996 election, Lui was re-elected to his seat, and he was narrowly re-elected as Premier, defeating Robert Rex Jr., by 11 votes to 9. Lui's second-term was more stable, and the government was able to pass anti-corruption laws and a ban on drift-net fishing in its Exclusive Economic Zone. It also partnered with Panamanian law firm
Mossack Fonseca
Mossack Fonseca & Co. () was a Panamanian law firm and Corporate services, corporate service provider.1999 election, and announced his retirement. He was replaced as premier by Sani Lakatani.
After politics
Following his retirement, Lui ran a video rental business.
In 2010, he became chair of the IUSN Foundation, a charitable foundation which provides Niueans with free internet access.
He died on 9 July 2021 at the age of 85.
Recognition
Lui was appointed a
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for those ...