Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake


Prince Fatafehi Tu'ipelehake was the youngest son of Queen Sālote Tupou III and was educated in Tonga and Australia. Tu'ipelehake is a traditional very high-ranking Tongan title. He was the 5th Tu'ipelehake.

Biography

Tu'i Pelehake attended Newington College, Sydney, and Gatton Agricultural College, Queensland, Australia. Fatafehi married Melenaite Tupoumoheofo Veikune on the same day as his older brother, the Crown Prince married Halaevalu Mataaho Ahomee. That was the famous double royal wedding of 10 June 1947. He received the title Tui Pelehake from his mother in 1944, and he also received the runner up highest title of Tonga of Tui Faleua.
From a non-traditional side, he was conferred an honorary CBE. He inherited from his mother an artistic side; he was a well-known poet and composer.
His career was with his brother in the government. His first assignment was as governor of Vavaʻu, later of Haʻapai, next he held various ministerial portfolios in cabinet, until he took over as Prime Minister of Tonga when his brother had to vacate the post on becoming king in 1965. He remained in this post until he had to withdraw in 1991 because of serious health problems. His last years were spent in a wheelchair on a life support system.
He kept the both titles of Tui Pelehake and Tui Faleua for so many years, that they became synonymous with him. But after his death, only the former was conferred to his son, while the latter returned to the king.
He died on 10 April 1999 in Auckland after a long illness.

Descent

Besides his son who inherited his positions, he also had four daughters and two sons :

National