Local Government Elections

Of the 62 candidates for the district officers posts, only two are women and of the 319 candidates for town officers, only 12 are women.

Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki said, in 2016, 18 women contested in the District and Town Officers Elections – four for the district officers and 12 for the town officers.

He said that out of the 18 women contested two women were successfully elected – the first female District Officer for ‘Eua Motu’a District in ‘Eua and the first female town officer for Havelu, Tongatapu.

RNZI reports in the recent local body elections, Sisifa Fili was voted in as 'Eua Motu'a District Officer, covering six villages.

There were no current women MPs and there had only ever been three. This has prompted a major push this year by government to promote the participation of women in politics.