Falani Aukuso

{{Short description|Tokelauan politician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Falani Aukuso

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|QSO|size=100%}}

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = September 1948

| birth_place =

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2008|7|31|1948|9|}}

| death_place = Suva, Fiji

| nationality = {{TKL}}

| other_names =

| known_for =

| occupation = Administrator, diplomat

}}

Falaniko "Falani" Iosefo Aukuso {{post-nominals|country=NZL|QSO|size=85%}} (September 1948 – 31 July 2008) was the deputy director general of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.{{cite web |url=https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/b0efa01c-1dfb-11e4-aedf-250bc8c9958e/ |title=SPC's deputy director-general dies unexpectedly |publisher=Saipan Tribune |date=1 August 2008 |accessdate=12 January 2021}}{{cite web |url=http://www.spc.int/fpocc/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=143 |title=Falani – a champion |first=Tangata |last=Vainerere |date=14 August 2008 |publisher=Secretariat of the Pacific Community |access-date=28 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920035636/http://www.spc.int/fpocc/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=143 |archive-date=20 September 2016 }}

Aukuso was a native of Tokelau. He served as the Tokelauan director of education. He later worked as a diplomatic officer with the New Zealand Ministry of External Relations and Trade from 1990 to 1994. He returned to Tokelau where he was the director of the Office of the Council of Faipule, which is the island country's Cabinet, from 1994 to 2004. Aukuso then became the general manager of the National Office of the Government of Tokelau in May 2004. Aukuso next became the deputy director general of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community on 1 July 2006, a position he held until his death.

In the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours, Aukuso was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2006 |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 2006 |date=5 June 2006 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=4 May 2020}}

He died suddenly at his home in Suva, Fiji, on 31 July 2008. His death was announced at the closing ceremonies of the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts at Veterans Stadium in Tafuna, American Samoa. His death was later found to be a suicide.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/178566/fiji-police-determine-spc's-aukuso-committed-suicide |title=Fiji police determine SPC's Aukuso committed suicide |publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=1 August 2008 |accessdate=12 January 2021}}