Viliami Tangi
{{Short description|Tongan politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Viliami Tangi
|honorific-suffix =
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|caption =
|office = Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga
|primeminister = Feleti Sevele
|term_start = May 2006
|term_end = 4 January 2011
|predecessor = James Cocker
|successor = Samiu Vaipulu
|office2 = Minister of Health
|term_start2 = 1 March 1999
|term_end2 = 4 January 2011
|primeminister2 = Baron Vaea
ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho
Feleti Sevele
|predecessor2 =
|successor2 = ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
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Viliami Ta’u Tangi, styled Lord Tangi of Vaonukonuka, is a Tongan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He has previously served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health.
Biography
Tangi is from Vavaʻu.{{cite book |url=https://readingwarrior.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tongan-Heroes-singles.pdf |title=Tongan Heroes |author=David Riley |publisher=Reading Warrior |location=Auckland |year=2016 |pages=28-30 |access-date=6 January 2022}} He trained as a medical doctor at the Fiji School of Medicine, then entered the civil service as a medical officer. After completing surgical training overseas he became the second Tongan national admitted to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He worked as Chief Surgeon in Vaiola Hospital, Nuku'alofa, before moving to Australia. He returned to Tonga after being appointed as Minister of Health in 1999. As a Minister, he sat in the Tongan Parliament, but was not an elected representative. In 2003 he was elected to the WHO Executive Board.
Following democratic reforms in 2010, Tangi contested the 2010 election,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/193304/tonga-health-minister-standing-in-elections-to-ensure-continuity |title=Tonga health minister standing in elections to ensure continuity |publisher=RNZ |date=25 October 2010 |accessdate=13 December 2020}} but failed to win a seat. On 30 December 2010, he was appointed a Tongan life peer by King George Tupou V as Lord Tangi of Vaonukonuka.{{cite web |url=http://www.mic.gov.to/government/nobles-of-the-realm/1969-lord-tangi-of-vaonukonuka |title=Lord Tangi of Vaonukonuka |publisher=Government of Tonga |date=30 December 2010 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102125353/http://www.mic.gov.to/government/nobles-of-the-realm/1969-lord-tangi-of-vaonukonuka |archive-date=2 January 2014}}
Following the 2021 Tongan general election, he was appointed interim Speaker.{{cite web |url=https://nukualofatimes.to/2021/11/22/lord-tangi-is-interim-speaker-of-the-house/ |title=Lord Tangi is interim Speaker of the House |publisher=Nukualofa Times |date=22 November 2021 |access-date=22 November 2021}}
Honours
;National honours
- 50px Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III, Knight Grand Cross with Collar (31 July 2008).{{cite web |url=https://matangitonga.to/2008/08/01/royal-orders-presented-palace |title=Royal orders presented at Palace |publisher=Matangi Tonga |date=1 August 2008 |access-date=2 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121030307/https://matangitonga.to/2008/08/01/royal-orders-presented-palace |archive-date=21 January 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tangi, Viliami}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Fiji School of Medicine alumni
Category:Deputy prime ministers of Tonga
Category:Ministers of health of Tonga
Category:Members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga
Category:Tongan emigrants to Australia
Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III
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