Pokotoa Sipeli

{{Short description|Niuean politician}}

{{EngvarB|date=February 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Pokotoa Sipeli

| image = Pokotoa Sipeli, acting prime minister of Niue (cropped).jpg

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

| office2 = Minister for Infrastructure

| term_start2 = May 2017

| term_end2 = June 2020

| primeminister2 = Toke Talagi

| predecessor2 = Dalton Tagelagi

| successor2 = Crossley Tatui

| office3 = Minister for Education and Social Services

| president3 =

| term_start3 = April 2014

| term_end3 = May 2017

| predecessor3 = himself

| successor3 = Billy Talagi

| office4 = Minister for Education

| president4 =

| term_start4 = May 2011

| term_end4 = April 2014

| predecessor4 = Togia Sioneholo

| successor4 = himself

| office7 = Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery

| president7 =

| term_start7 = June 2008

| term_end7 = April 2014

| predecessor7 =

| successor7 = Billy Talagi

| office8 =

| primeminister8 =

| term_start8 =

| term_end8 =

| predecessor8 =

| successor8 =

| office9 =

| primeminister9 =

| term_start9 =

| term_end9 =

| predecessor9 =

| successor9 =

| constituency_MP10 =

| parliament10 =

| term_start10 =

| term_end10 =

| predecessor10 =

| successor10 =

| constituency_MP11 = Liku

| parliament11 = Niuean

| term_start11 = 27 February 1993

| term_end11 = 29 April 2023

| predecessor11 =

| successor11 = Logopati Seumanu

| majority11 =

| party = Independent

| caption = Sipeli in 2018

}}

Pokotoa Ikiua Lalotoa Sipeli {{post-nominals|country=NZL|NDSC}} is a former Niuean politician and Cabinet Minister who served in the cabinet of Toke Talagi from 2008 to 2020.

Career

Sipeli was first elected to the Niue Assembly in the seat of Liku at the 1993 Niuean general election. Following the 2008 election, he was appointed to premier Toke Talagi's cabinet, as minister of post and telecommunications, minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and minister of administrative services.[http://www.gov.nu/The_Members_of_Niue_Fono_Ekepule/MenuId/130.aspx "Members of the Niue Fono Ekepule"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812031220/http://www.gov.nu/The_Members_of_Niue_Fono_Ekepule/MenuId/130.aspx |date=12 August 2010 }}, website of the Niuean government[http://www.gov.nu/Cabinet_Ministers/MenuId/101.aspx Members of the Niuean Cabinet] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518121926/http://www.gov.nu/Cabinet_Ministers/MenuId/101.aspx |date=18 May 2008 }}, website of the Niuean government

He is also chairman of the Niue ICT Development Council (NiDC).[http://gac.icann.org/gac-representatives/pokotoa-sipeli "Pokotoa Sipeli"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128095641/http://gac.icann.org/gac-representatives/pokotoa-sipeli |date=28 January 2010 }}, ICANN

At the 2022 Niue National Awards he was awarded the Niue Distinguished Service Cross.{{cite web |url=https://tvniue.com/2022/09/distinguished-service-cross-awarded-to-former-cabinet-minister-hon-pokotoa-sipeli/ |title=Distinguished Service Cross awarded to former Cabinet Minister Hon. Pokotoa Sipeli |publisher=TVNiue |author=Esther Pavihi |date=September 2022 |access-date=3 December 2022}}

He retired at the 2023 election.{{cite web |url=https://tvniue.com/2023/04/six-members-announce-retirement-from-politics-in-the-lead-up-to-the-general-elections-2023/ |title=Six members announce retirement from politics in the lead up to the general elections 2023 |publisher=TV Niue |author= Sariah Magaoa |date=14 April 2023 |access-date=3 May 2023}}

References