A dispute over the leadership of the Tokaikolo Church has escalated into a legal battle after a senior minister challenged the eligibility of two top church leaders to continue holding office.
Rev Mesake Mapapalangi has reportedly filed a complaint questioning the legality of the re-election of the church’s President, Siosaia Fapuiaki Tatafu, and its General Secretary, Siaosi Pita Kava.
The Tokaikolo Church itself has been named as the third respondent in the case.
According to reports, Rev Mapapalangi argued that both Tatafu and Kava are already over 70, which he says makes them ineligible to stand for office under the church’s constitution.
He further states that both men are in declining health, noting that one is now wheelchair‑bound while the other is undergoing dialysis treatment.
Rev Mapapalangi argues that these circumstances make it unlawful for the two leaders to continue serving in their posts.
He claimed that a recent court decision had cancelled the election because Tatafu and Kava could no longer legally remain in office.
Church responds to the court action
In response, church spokesperson Sangstar Saulala told Kaniva News the leadership viewed the timing of the court’s communication as unusual and is formally disputing it.
He said the court’s letter was only delivered last Friday and required a response within seven days. However, the letter itself was dated 26 February, which meant the seven‑day deadline technically expired on Friday 6 March—the same day it was delivered.
Saulala said that under normal practice, deadlines begin from the day the letter is actually received. If counted from last Friday, the church’s seven‑day window would not expire until tomorrow.
“The church will therefore submit its response tomorrow,” Saulala said, adding that they would also ask the court to cancel the order issued on Tuesday, 10 March, on the grounds that the church did not receive the original notice until after the deadline had already passed.
Saulala did not dispute questions about our information, indicating that Rev Mapapalangi is taking the church, the president, and the secretary to court, nor the basis of their accusations.
The Tokaikolo Church is no stranger to court disputes.
The Auckland‑based Tokaikolo Christian Church previously faced High Court allegations of financial mismanagement, including claims of misused donations and substantial losses in a Ponzi scheme.
Plaintiffs in that case sought interim orders to freeze church spending and called for a forensic audit of all income and expenditure dating back to 2003.
The Tokaikolo Church has also been involved in a long‑running land dispute in Kolomotuʻa, where the Court of Appeal ruled that church members were entitled to reoccupy and own the land and buildings after a split in 2014.
The decision required the breakaway Mo’ui ‘Ia Kalaisi fellowship to vacate the property within 21 days, overturning earlier rulings that had awarded them the lease.
