Former Tongan Minister of Finance Lisiate ʻAloveita ʻAkolo, 76, will be laid to rest in Auckland on Monday following funeral services over the weekend.
His son Kalio ʻAkolo announced the funeral arrangements on Facebook, thanking family and friends for their “love, prayers and support during this time”.
A family failotu will be held at Ann’s Funeral Home in Wiri on Saturday, October 3, from 7pm to 9pm.
An ʻapo will follow at Tuingapapai ʻo Uesile in Favona on Sunday from 8pm to 10pm.
The burial service will be held at the same church from 9am on Monday, October 5, before ʻAkolo is laid to rest at Manukau Memorial Gardens in Wiri at 11am.
ʻAkolo was a prominent figure in Tonga’s government, politics, banking, commerce and regional affairs over several decades.
He entered Cabinet in 2006 when then Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele appointed him Minister for Labour, Commerce and Industries.
Before entering frontline politics, ʻAkolo had already built a lengthy career in economic development, including work with the Tonga Commodities Board and Tonga Development Bank and as chief executive of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation. He held a BA in Political Science and Public Administration from Victoria University of Wellington and an MA in Development Banking from American University in Washington DC.
He was elected as the People’s Representative for Vavaʻu 14 in Tonga’s landmark 2010 general election and remained in Cabinet under Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakanō.
He initially continued as Minister for Labour, Commerce and Industries before being moved to the Police, Prisons and Fire Services portfolio in 2011.
In May 2012, ʻAkolo became Minister for Finance and National Planning. During his tenure he also served as a member of the Asian Development Bank’s Board of Governors and represented Tonga internationally on economic and fiscal issues.
Government records from the period show he was overseeing Tonga’s finances at a difficult time, when the country was confronting high external-debt risks and weak economic growth. In the Government’s 2012 annual public debt bulletin, ʻAkolo described Tonga as facing a “very challenging time” because of external debt distress and low growth.
His 2012/13 Budget was presented under the theme “Creating Opportunity in Extraordinary Times”, with ʻAkolo saying the Government was attempting to balance public expectations against difficult international and domestic financial conditions.
His tenure as Finance Minister ended amid a highly public political disagreement in January 2014.
Cabinet backed Lord Tuʻivakanō’s call for ʻAkolo to resign after he publicly commented on a proposed five-percent salary increase for civil servants. ʻAkolo refused to stand down and was subsequently removed as Finance Minister on January 9, 2014.
He was succeeded by ʻAisake Eke.
ʻAkolo contested Vavaʻu 14 again in the November 2014 general election but lost the seat to Dr Saia Piukala, receiving 739 votes to Piukala’s 1,232.
ʻAkolo’s public service was also recognised by the Tongan monarchy.
During the 2008 coronation celebrations for King George Tupou V, he was appointed a Grand Cross of the Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III, an honour bestowed in recognition of service and achievement.
His funeral will conclude with his burial at Manukau Memorial Gardens on Monday.
