Va'aiga Tukuitonga

{{Short description|Niuean politician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2016}}

File:Vaaiga Tukuitonga speaking2 2013.jpg

Va'aiga Paotama Tukuitonga is a Niuean politician and former Cabinet Minister. She is member of the Niue Assembly for the village of Alofi North.

Tukuitonga was educated at Victoria University of Wellington.{{cite web |url=http://www.pacwip.org/future-elections/niue/?viewdetails&candidate=12 |title=Hon. Va'aiga Paotama Tukuitonga |publisher=Pacific Women in politics |date= |accessdate=2014-01-26}} She has previously worked as a Justice of Peace, public servant, and schoolteacher. She was first elected to the Assembly in the 1999 elections, defeating sitting Premier Frank Lui in his own seat.{{cite journal |author=Stephen Levine |title=Political Review: Niue |journal=The Contemporary Pacific |volume=12 |issue=1 |year=2000 |pages=231–236 |doi=10.1353/cp.2000.0020}} She was re-elected at the 2002 and 2005 elections, and appointed to the Cabinet of Young Vivian as Minister of Education after the latter. She was elected unopposed at the 2008 election.

In 2013 Tukuitonga blamed Niue's falling population on the use of contraception.{{cite web |url=http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2013/04/niue-politician-blames-family-planning-experts-for-depopulation-threat/ |title=Niue politician blames family planning experts for 'depopulation' threat |author=Michael Sergel and Finian Scott |publisher=Pacific Scoop |date=2013-04-20 |accessdate=2014-01-26}}

Tukuitonga retired from politics at the 2023 Niuean general election.{{cite web |url=https://tvniue.com/2023/03/hon-vaaiga-tukuitonga-announced-retirement-from-politics-today-at-the-closing-of-the-17th-fono-ekepule/ |title=Hon. Va'aiga Tukuitonga announced retirement from politics today at the closing of the 17th Fono Ekepule |publisher=TV Niue |author= Esther Pavihi |date=March 2023 |access-date=14 April 2023}}