Fofo Tuisano Explained

Fofo Esera Tuisano is a Tokelauan politician serving as the Tokelau: [[Politics of Tokelau|Faipule]] of Fakaofo since March 2020. He was the 28th Tokelau: [[Ulu-o-Tokelau]] (head of government of Tokelau) from March 2020 to March 2021.

Biography

Tuisano is from the island of Fakaofo, part of Tokelau.^[1] He is married.^[2] Prior to entering politics, he was active in the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).^[3] In 2020, he ran for election as part of the 2020 Tokelauan general election to be the Tokelau: [[Politics of Tokelau|Faipule]] of his island and was elected, succeeding Afega Gaualofa and also becoming a member of the General Fono – the Tokelauan parliament.^[4]

Although only just elected his island's Faipule, Tuisano was named the Tokelau: [[Ulu-o-Tokelau]] (head of government of Tokelau) for the one-year term from March 2020 to March 2021.^[1] Working with Administrator of Tokelau Ross Ardern, Tuisano's term was marked by the territory's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[1] At the end of his term, he noted that "2020 has been a challenging year. I had only been elected for the first time as Faipule of Fakaofo and straight to the Ulu of Tokelau office in a global pandemic year that changed the norm for most countries in the world including Tokelau. It has been a difficult year but we successfully repatriated over 100 of our families back to Tokelau and held on to be one of the few countries in the world that is free of COVID-19."^[1]

In March 2021, Tuisano was succeeded as Ulu-o-Tokelau by Kelihiano Kalolo.^[1] He was re-elected Faipule and to the General Fono in 2023, being named the minister of transport and support services and minister of energy.^{[5] [6]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Tokelau opens parliament for 2021. Radio New Zealand. 10 March 2021.
2. Web site: Te Afioga a te Ulu o Tokelau Fofo Tuisano ma te faletua kia Maihe Tuisano. Facebook. Te Mana. 17 March 2020. The Honorable Head of Tokelau Fofo Tuisano and his wife Maihe Tuisano. Samoan.
3. Web site: Pacific Regional Solid Waste Management Strategy 2010-2015. Pacific Regional Environment Programme. 18 November 2009. 4.
4. Web site: General election results for Tokelau announced. Radio New Zealand. 31 January 2020.
5. Web site: Results are in for the 2023 Tokelau national election. Radio New Zealand. 30 January 2023. Lewis, Lydia.
6. Web site: Tokelau welcomes new head of government. Radio New Zealand. 13 March 2023. Lewis, Lydia.