Dion Taufitu

{{Infobox officeholder

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| name = Dion Taufitu

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| office7 = Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry

| primeminister7 = Sani Lakatani

| term_start7 = 26 March 1999

| term_end7 = 1 May 2002

| predecessor7 =

| successor7 = Bill Vakaafi Motufoou

| office8 = Minister of Public Works

| primeminister8 = Sani Lakatani

| term_start8 = 26 March 1999

| term_end8 = 1 May 2002

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| successor8 = Bill Vakaafi Motufoou

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| constituency_MP10 = Toi

| parliament10 = Niuean

| term_start10 = 7 June 2008

| term_end10 =

| predecessor10 = Lilivika Muimatagi

| successor10 =

| constituency_MP11 = Toi

| parliament11 = Niuean

| term_start11 = 7 April 1990

| term_end11 = 30 April 2005

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| successor11 = Lilivika Muimatagi

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Dion Paki Taufitu is a Niuean politician and Cabinet Minister.

Taufitu formerly served as clerk of the Niue Assembly.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-342810817/view?sectionId=nla.obj-352779063 |title=Rex beats the odds |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=60 |issue=5 |page=19 |date=1 May 1990 |access-date=5 May 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} He was first elected to the Assembly at the 1990 Niuean general election. He was re-elected at the 1996 election.{{cite journal |url=https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/d8aceee3-b08b-4146-b4d0-3111255418ab/content |title=Niue in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 1995 to 30 June 1996 |last1=Levine |first1=Stephen |journal=The Contemporary Pacific |volume=9 |issue=1 |year=1997 |pages=237 }}

He was re-elected at the 1999 election and appointed Minister of Administrative Services, Public Works, Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Employment, and Broadcasting in the government of Sani Lakatani.{{cite journal |url=https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/771528f1-d687-4940-aef2-b39dc7f32075/content |title=Niue in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 |last1=Levine |first1=Stephen |journal=The Contemporary Pacific |volume=12 |issue=1 |year=2000 |pages=232–233 }}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-346164323/view?sectionId=nla.obj-346994833 |title=Lui loses his seat |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=69 |issue=6 |page=39 |date=1 June 1999 |access-date=5 May 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} He was re-elected at the 2002 election,{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2002/04/22/niues-election-inconclusive |title=NIUE'S ELECTION INCONCLUSIVE |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=22 April 2002 |access-date=2 December 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910072912/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2002/04/22/niues-election-inconclusive |archive-date=10 September 2021}} but lost his seat at the 2005 election on a hat-draw.{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2005/05/09/niue%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99s-talagi-pulls-election-out-hat |title=NIUE’S TALAGI PULLS ELECTION OUT OF HAT |publisher=Pacific islands Report |date=9 May 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815144454/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2005/05/09/niue%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99s-talagi-pulls-election-out-hat |archive-date=15 August 2020}}

He was re-elected to the Assembly at the 2008 Niuean general election. He was re-elected in the 2011 election,{{cite web |url=http://www.niuenews1.com/preliminary-results-niue-election/2373/ |title=Preliminary Results Niue Election 2011 |publisher=Niue News 1 |date=8 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625104009/http://www.niuenews1.com/preliminary-results-niue-election/2373/ |archive-date=25 June 2011}} but was in New Zealand for medical treatment when it was time to be sworn in. Speaker of the Assembly Ahohiva Levi travelled to Auckland and privately administered the oath of office there, but the validity of the process was challenged by common roll MP Togia Sioneholo.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/200965/niue-mp-challenges-swearing-in-of-colleague-in-auckland |title=Niue MP challenges swearing-in of colleague in Auckland |publisher=RNZ |date=18 November 2011 |access-date=5 May 2023}} In March 2012 the High Court of Niue ruled that the oath was invalid, precipitating the 2012 Toi by-election.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/203067/niue-by-election-after-oath-declared-void |title=Niue by-election after oath declared void |publisher=RNZ |date=7 March 2012 |access-date=5 May 2023}} Taufitu won the by-election and was subsequently sworn in in April 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/203762/taufitu-takes-niue-seat-after-successful-swearing-in |title=Taufitu takes Niue seat after successful swearing-in |publisher=RNZ |date=9 April 2012 |access-date=5 May 2023}}

At the 2014 election Taufitu tied with Mokaelalini Vaha,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/241811/straws-to-be-drawn-today-on-who-will-win-crucial-niue-seat |title=Straws to be drawn today on who will win crucial Niue seat |publisher=RNZ |date=16 April 2014 |access-date=5 May 2023}} but was elected after his name was drawn from a hat.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/241921/winner-of-a-crucial-niue-seat-decided |title=Winner of a crucial Niue seat decided |publisher=RNZ |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=5 May 2023}} Vaha launched an unsuccessful election petition.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/242989/newly-elected-niue-mp-challenged |title=Newly elected Niue MP challenged |publisher=RNZ |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=5 May 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/245401/niue-high-court-makes-ruling-on-petition-inquiry |title=Niue High Court makes ruling on petition inquiry |publisher=RNZ |date=26 May 2014 |access-date=5 May 2023}}

He was re-elected at the 2017 and 2020 elections. In July 2022 he served as an acting Minister while Premier Dalton Tagelagi was overseas.{{cite web |url=https://tvniue.com/2022/07/acting-speaker-hon-vaaiga-tukuitoga-was-sworn-in-today/ |title=Acting Speaker Hon. Va’aiga Tukuitoga was sworn in today |publisher=TV Niue |author=Esther Pavihi |date=5 July 2022 |access-date=5 May 2023}} When the Assembly sat in 2023, he was elected interim Speaker for its first sitting, as Speaker Hima Douglas was overseas.{{cite web |url=https://tvniue.com/2023/02/the-first-meeting-of-the-fono-ekepule-in-2023-with-interim-speaker-hon-dion-taufitu/ |title=The first meeting of the Fono Ekepule in 2023 with interim Speaker Hon. Dion Taufitu |publisher=TV Niue |author=Esther Pavihi |date=3 February 2023 |access-date=5 May 2023}} At the 2023 election he was re-elected unopposed.{{cite web |url=https://tvniue.com/2023/04/list-of-candidates-for-the-2023-general-elections-released-tagelagi-duly-elected-with-5-others/ |title=List of candidates for the 2023 General Elections released; Tagelagi duly elected with 5 others |website=TV Niue |author= Esther Pavihi |date=14 April 2023 |access-date=14 April 2023}}