Tonga election

In a tight race for Tongatapu One, Siaosi Pohiva, who is 'Akilisi's eldest son, won by just 16 votes.

With 1160 votes he edged out Netatua Pelesikoti Taufatofua.

There are 4342 registered voters in Tongatapu One but only 2305 cast ballots, a mere 53 percent.

RNZ Pacific's Tonga correspondent, Kalafi Moala, said for those who wanted change, and for those who no longer wanted to live under the shadow of the popular late politician, the result was a disappointment, especially as the son has pledged to fulfill the vision of his father.

Tongans are to vote for a new parliament on the 16th November after King Tupou VI suddenly dissolved parliament in August.

Nominations for the election closed last week with 86 candidates to contest the 17 democratically elected seats in the parliament.

The lawyer Sione Fonua, who previously split his time between Auckland and Nuku'alofa, said being based in Tonga for the last 18 months will help.

That year 105 stood for the 17 seats open to members of the general public, but just 86 are to stand on 16 November.

Fifteen of the candidates are women.

Most of the candidates are in the ten seats on Tongatapu, and Tongatapu One, which has been held by caretaker prime minister Akilisi Pohiva for many years, has the highest number of candidates.

Ten people are joining Mr Pohiva in contesting the seat.

Just over 51,000 voters registered for the last election in 2014.

Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki says the final electoral roll will be printed on September 15.

Mr Vuki told the Matangi Tonga website that he expects the number of voters to be close to that of the provisional roll but there are still voters coming in to register.

The deadline for new voters to register is Thursday.

The provisional electoral roll consists of 51% women and 49% men.

King Tupou VI has issued the Writs of Election, confirming the election which was brought forward a year after last month's dissolution of parliament.

The Supervisor of Elections, Pita Vuki, said the next step would be the nomination of candidates to be held on September 27 and 28.

"At least 50 persons from each constitutency will have to nominate a candidate. All of them will have to be registered voters in their respective consitituencies.

"There are fees of 400 pa'anga also accompanied by a clearance letter from [the] courts."