Dalton Emani Makamau Tagelagi[1] (born 5 June 1968) is a Niuean politician and Premier of Niue since June 2020. He was elected premier by the Niue Legislative Assembly on 11 June 2020, defeating O'Love Jacobsen by 13 votes to 7.[2]
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Dalton Tagelagi
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Tagelagi in 2023
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| Premier of Niue | |
| Assumed office 11 June 2020 | |
| Governor-General | Patsy Reddy Cindy Kiro |
| Preceded by | Toke Talagi |
| Minister for Natural Resources | |
| In office May 2017 – June 2020 | |
| Premier | Toke Talagi |
| Preceded by | Billy Talagi |
| Member of the Niue Assembly from Alofi South | |
| Assumed office May 2008 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dalton Emani Makamau Tagelagi (1968-06-05) 5 June 1968 (age 56) Alofi, Niue |
| Political party | Independent |
| Occupation | Bowler Politician |
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Tagelagi is the son of Sam Pata Emani Tagelagi, who served as Speaker of the Niue Legislative Assembly from 1976 to 1993.[2]
He has competed in bowls for Niue, at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow[3] and the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.[4] In 2022, he competed in the men's pairs and the men's fours at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.[5][6]
Tagelagi was first elected to the Niue Assembly at the 2008 Niuean general election. Following the 2014 Niuean general election he was appointed Minister of Infrastructure.[7][8] He was re-elected at the 2017 Niuean general election,[9][10] and subsequently served as Minister for the Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.[2][11] As Environment Minister he represented Niue at the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference, calling for rich nations to show greater ambition.[12]
He was re-elected in the 2020 Niuean general election and subsequently elected premier. After being elected he announced that his first priority would be investigating government finances.[13] As Premier his government ratified the PACER Plus regional trade agreement.[14] During the COVID-19 pandemic he negotiated a one-way travel-bubble allowing Niueans to travel to New Zealand,[15] and oversaw a vaccination program which saw Niue gain full herd immunity to the virus.[16][17] In November 2021 he began a one-year term as Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific.[18][19] His tenure concluded in June 2022, and he was succeeded by Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II.[20]
He was re-elected unopposed to the Assembly at the 2023 election.[21] He was subsequently re-elected as Premier, defeating O'Love Jacobsen 16 votes to 4.[22] He appointed his Cabinet on 12 May 2023, the first gender-balanced Cabinet in Niuean history.[23][24]
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Premier of Niue 2020–present |
Incumbent |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific 2021–2022 |
Succeeded by |