ʻAna Taufeʻulungaki
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ʻAna Maui Taufeʻulungaki (10 May 1946 – 18 November 2024) was a Tongan academic and politician.


Life and career

Taufeʻulungaki was born on 10 May 1946. She had a Ph.D. from the
University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university in Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingham (founded in 1825 as ...
.Biography
on the website of the Tongan government
For thirty years, she worked as "teacher, school principal, curriculum developer, educational administrator and planner" in the Tongan Ministry of Education. From 1999, she then worked at the
University of the South Pacific The University of the South Pacific (USP) is a public research university with locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. Established in 1968, the university is organised as an intergovernmental organisation and is owned by the gov ...
, first as
Fellow A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...
, then as Director of the Institute of Education, and finally Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Affairs, in 2006 and 2007. In 2006, she was an observer for the University at the
Pacific Islands Forum The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is an inter-governmental organisation that aims to enhance cooperation among countries and territories of Oceania, including formation of a trade bloc and regional peacekeeping operations. It was founded in 197 ...
's regional Economic Ministers' Meeting (FEMM), which advises Forum leaders on "issues of economic management and development". She later criticised what she had perceived, at the meeting, as a "one dimensional approach to economic development, particularly where there is no mention of the cultural context and the socio-political issues which are associated with economic development". She warned that if investment failed to consider the cultural context of land use and ownership, "land would simply be a commodity to be developed and sold on the market. But to Pacific Islanders who see land as central to their sense of identity, the concept of the ''
vanua __NOTOC__ The word ''banua'' or ''vanua'' (the latter from Fijian, as well as various languages of Melanesia, see below) – meaning "land," "home," or "village" – occurs in several Austronesian languages. It derives from the Proto-Austronesia ...
'' is critical. If you don't deal with that concept, the economic issues won't be addressed long-term, and will probably falter." In addition, she said, ministers "talk dabout the economic and financial issues but they d d't consider the social implications .. There's been discussions about economic growth but not equitable economic growth." That same year, in a "confidential report to the University of the South Pacific" on the November riots in
Nukuʻalofa Nukualofa ( , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, in the country's southernmost island group. History First western records of Nukualofa On 10 June 1777, British ...
, she "reportedly accused the Tongan government ed by Feleti Sevele">Feleti_Sevele.html" ;"title="ed by Feleti Sevele">ed by Feleti Seveleof 'a series of ill-timed and ill-conceived moves, which demonstrated their total inability to read the situation and which served to confirm in the minds of the pro-democracy movement that things will never change'". Following the
November 2010 general election, in which she was not a candidate, new
Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
Lord Tuʻivakanō Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power (social and political), power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the Peerage o ...
appointed her Minister of Education, Women's Affairs and Culture. She was one of two persons appointed Minister despite not being a Member of
Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
(the other being Clive Edwards (Tonga)">Clive Edwards Clive Edwards (born 19 January 1953) is a drummer, who is best known as a former member of the United Kingdom, British band, UFO (band), UFO (from August 1989 to June 1993). He also featured on the Bronz second album ''Carried By The Storm''< ...
). She was sworn in on 13 January 2011. There had been no women elected to Parliament in November, so appointing an MP to the Ministry for Women would have meant appointing a male Minister. Her appointment, and Edwards', were somewhat controversial, but Lord Tuʻivakanō defended his choice on the grounds of their experience. As Minister for Education, Taufeʻulungaki said education curricula had to be "relevant to the situation in Tonga, and to an increasingly inter-connected globalised world", and to "give back to the society the best value for its investment in education". She also said one of her priorities would be to "review the teacher recruitment process and strengthen teachers’ professional development". On 26 May 2022, she was appointed to the Privy Council of Tonga. Taufeʻulungaki died on 18 November 2024, at the age of 78.Former Education Minister, Dr 'Ana Maui Taufe'ulungaki dies
/ref>


References


External links


"'Fonua': Reclaiming Pacific communities in Aotearoa"
on "health issues from a cultural perspective", by ʻAna Taufeʻulungaki {{DEFAULTSORT:Taufeulungaki, Ana 1946 births 2024 deaths Tongan academics Alumni of the University of Birmingham Academic staff of the University of the South Pacific Women government ministers of Tonga Women's ministers of Tonga 20th-century Tongan politicians 20th-century Tongan women 21st-century Tongan people 21st-century Tongan women politicians 21st-century Tongan politicians