Viliami Hingano
{{Short description|Tongan politician (1975–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Viliami Hingano
|honorific-suffix =
|image = Viliami Hingano 2016.jpg
|caption = Hingano in 2016
|office =
|primeminister =
|term_start =
|term_end =
|predecessor =
|successor =
|office2 =
|term_start2 =
|term_end2 =
|primeminister2 =
|predecessor2 =
|successor2 =
|office3 = Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forests
|primeminister3 = Siaosi Sovaleni
|term_start3 = 28 December 2021
|term_end3 = 10 June 2022
|predecessor3 = Lord Tu’ilakepa
|successor3 = Sione Siale Fohe
|office4 = Governor of Haʻapai
|primeminister4 = Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
|term_start4 = 25 January 2021
|term_end4 = 28 December 2021
|predecessor4 = Mohenoa Puloka
|successor4 = Pita Faiva Taufatofua
|constituency_MP5 = Haʻapai 12
|term_start5 = 18 November 2021
|term_end5 = 10 June 2022
|predecessor5 = Moʻale Finau
|successor5 =
|majority5 =
|constituency_MP6 =
|parliament6 =
|term_start6 = 27 November 2014
|term_end6 = 16 November 2017
|predecessor6 = Moʻale Finau
|successor6 = Moʻale Finau
|birth_date = 1975
|birth_place =
|death_date = 10 June 2022 (aged 47)
|death_place = Auckland, New Zealand
|party = None
|alma_mater =
|website =
}}
Viliami Manuopangai Faka’osiula Hingano (1975 – 10 June 2022){{cite web |url=https://www.kanivatonga.nz/2022/06/tongas-minister-for-agriculture-dies-in-auckland/ |title=Tonga Minister for Agriculture dies in Auckland |publisher=Kaniva Tonga |date=10 June 2022 |access-date=11 June 2022}} was a Tongan politician and Cabinet Minister.
Biography
Hingano ran in the 2010 Tongan general election but was unsuccessful. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga at the 2014 election, but his election was disputed, leading to a recount,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/260975/tongan-officials-to-recount-votes-in-ha%27apai |title=Tongan officials to recount votes in Ha'apai |publisher=RNZ |date=4 December 2014 |accessdate=23 June 2020}} which he won.{{cite web |url=https://matangitonga.to/2014/12/09/haapai-12-ballot-recount-confirms-vili-hingano |title=Ha'apai 12 Ballot recount confirms Vili Hingano |publisher=Matangi Tonga |date=9 December 2014 |accessdate=23 June 2020}} In parliament, he generally sided with the Noble faction, opposing the government of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva's decision to withdraw from hosting the Pacific Games,{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2017/06/12/tongan-government-decision-withdraw-pacific-games-leads-adjournment-parliament |title=Tongan Government Decision To Withdraw From Pacific Games Leads To Adjournment Of Parliament |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=12 June 2017 |accessdate=23 June 2020}} and opposing it in confidence votes.{{cite web |url=https://www.onepng.com/2017/02/tongan-pm-akilisi-pohiva-survives-no.html |title=Tongan PM Akilisi Pohiva survives no- confidence vote |publisher=One PNG |date=27 February 2017 |accessdate=23 June 2020}} In June 2016 he advocated for higher salaries for MPs.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/306381/tongan-mp-wants-pay-to-match-pacific-counterparts |title=Tongan MP wants pay to match Pacific counterparts |publisher=RNZ |date=16 June 2016 |accessdate=23 June 2020}}
Hingano was defeated at the 2017 election, losing to Moʻale Finau. In January 2021 he was appointed Governor of Haʻapai by Prime Minister Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa.{{cite web |url=https://fangongomediawatch.com/pacific/king-confirms-key-government-appointments/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410150637/https://fangongomediawatch.com/pacific/king-confirms-key-government-appointments/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=10 April 2021 |title=King confirms key government appointments |publisher=Fāngongo |date=25 January 2021 |access-date=9 January 2022}} Shortly after being appointed he was convicted of unlawful possession of 198 kg of turtle meat.{{cite web |url=https://www.kanivatonga.nz/2021/03/judge-finds-haapai-governor-guity-of-possessing-unlawful-turtle-meat/ |title=Ha'apai governor who is a former lawmaker guilty of possessing unlawful turtle meat |publisher=Kaniva Tonga |date=18 March 2021 |access-date=9 January 2022}} He was fined T$12,000,{{cite web |url=https://www.kanivatonga.nz/2021/05/haapai-governor-fined-12000-for-unlawful-possession-of-huge-amount-of-turtle-meat/ |title=Ha'apai governor fined $12,000 for unlawful possession of huge amount of turtle meat |publisher=Kaniva Tonga |date=19 May 2021 |access-date=9 January 2022}} but allowed to retain his position.{{cite web |url=https://www.kanivatonga.nz/2021/05/haapai-governor-keeping-post-after-sentencing-encourages-illegal-acts-lawyer-nalesoni-tupou/ |title=Ha'apai Governor keeping office after sentencing encourages illegal acts: Lawyer Nalesoni Tupou |publisher=Kaniva Tonga |date=22 May 2021 |access-date=9 January 2022}}
He was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly at the 2021 election.{{cite web |url=https://matangitonga.to/2021/11/19/tonga-elects-all-male-parliament-nine-new-peoples-reps |title=Tonga elects all-male parliament with nine new People's Reps |publisher=Matangi Tonga |date=18 November 2021 |access-date=18 November 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118122442/https://matangitonga.to/2021/11/19/tonga-elects-all-male-parliament-nine-new-peoples-reps |archive-date=18 November 2021}} On 28 December 2021 he was appointed to the Cabinet of Siaosi Sovaleni as Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forests.{{cite web |url=https://matangitonga.to/2021/12/29/pm-names-new-government |title=PM names new government |publisher=Matangi Tonga |date=29 December 2021 |access-date=29 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229094621/https://matangitonga.to/2021/12/29/pm-names-new-government |archive-date=29 December 2021}} Immediately after being appointed he flew to New Zealand for medical treatment.{{cite web |url=https://www.kanivatonga.nz/2022/01/tongas-maff-minister-flooded-with-messages-of-love-and-support-while-in-auckland-hospital/ |title=Tonga's MAFF Minister flooded with messages of love and support while in Auckland hospital |publisher=Kaniva Tonga |date=3 January 2022 |access-date=4 January 2022}}
Hingano died in Auckland on 10 June 2022 at the age of 47.{{cite web |url=https://matangitonga.to/2022/06/11/pm-announces-death-tongan-cabinet-minister-new-zealand |title=PM announces death of Tongan Cabinet Minister in New Zealand |publisher=Matangi Tonga |date=11 June 2022 |access-date=11 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611080430/https://matangitonga.to/2022/06/11/pm-announces-death-tongan-cabinet-minister-new-zealand |archive-date=11 June 2022}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hingano, Viliami Manuopangai Fakaosiula}}
Category:Government ministers of Tonga
Category:Independent politicians in Tonga