Nukuʻalofa, Tonga — The People’s Representative for the Niua 17 constituency, Lataʻifangataʻa Tangimana, will continue to serve as a Member of the Legislative Assembly pending a final decision by the Court of Appeal, following a stay of execution granted by the Supreme Court.
Tangimana was convicted of electoral bribery by the Supreme Court on 24 March 2026, following findings that he distributed fish to voters in September 2025, and has recently resigned as Minister of Finance.
The Legislative Assembly confirmed this morning that the execution of a certificate declaring Tangimana’s election void has been formally stayed, meaning he will not be unseated at this time.
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly received a certificate on 9 April 2026 from the Honourable Justice Garlick KC, certifying that the Supreme Court had declared the Niua 17 parliamentary election void as a result of an election petition, CV54/2025 Finau v Tangimana.
Following receipt of the certificate, a notice was issued on 13 April 2026 informing Members of Parliament that the Legislative Assembly would meet on 27 April 2026. The sole purpose of that meeting was to unseat the People’s Representative for Niua 17 in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
However, the Legislative Assembly later received a further letter from Justice Garlick KC on Monday, 20 April 2026, advising of a court ruling dated 11 April 2026 that granted a stay of execution of the certificate issued on 9 April.
The stay of execution effectively pauses the enforcement of the Supreme Court decision while the matter is under appeal. The appeal has now been formally filed with the Court of Appeal, which is scheduled to convene in July 2026.
As a result of the stay, the Legislative Assembly confirmed that the meeting scheduled for 27 April 2026 has been cancelled, and that Hon. Tangimana will remain in his parliamentary seat until the appeal process is concluded.
“Pursuant to the Court Ruling dated 11 April 2026, the Legislative Assembly will stay the execution of the Certificate issued by the Court on 9 April 2026,” the press release stated. “This means that the Legislative Assembly will not unseat the People’s Representative for Niua 17 from his parliamentary seat until a decision is made by the Court of Appeal.”
