Billy Talagi

Billy Talagi
Billy Talagi in 2017
Speaker of the Niue Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
13 May 2026
Preceded byHima Douglas
Minister for Education and Social Services
In office
6 May 2017 – 30 May 2020
Prime MinisterToke Talagi
Preceded byPokotoa Sipeli
Succeeded bySauni Tongatule
Minister of Natural Resources
In office
30 April 2014 – 6 May 2017
Succeeded byDalton Tagelagi
Member of the Niuean Parliament
for Common Roll
In office
29 April 2023 – 12 May 2026
Member of the Niuean Parliament
for Avatele
In office
19 March 1999 – 30 May 2020
Preceded byAokuso Pavihi
Succeeded byPoimamao Vakanofisi
Member of the Niuean Parliament
for Common Roll
In office
15 February 1997 – 19 March 1999
Personal details
PartyNone

Billy Graham Talagi is a Niuean politician, former member of the Niue Assembly, and current speaker of the Niue Assembly. He is the brother of former Premier of Niue Toke Talagi.

Career

Talagi was first elected to the Niue Assembly in a 1997 by-election. He has represented the village of Avatele in the Niue Assembly continuously since 1999. In 2005, 2008, and 2014 he was elected unopposed. In 2014 he was made Minister of Natural Resources in the Cabinet of Toke Talagi. In 2017 he was made Minister for Education and Social Services. In 2019 he served as Acting Prime Minister while Toke Talagi was receiving medical treatment in New Zealand.

In May 2018 Talagi was discharged without conviction after pleading guilty to assaulting MP Terry Coe outside the Niuean Assembly.

He contested the common roll in the 2020 Niuean general election but failed to win a seat. He was re-elected at the 2023 election. After Talagi lost his common roll seat in the 2026 election, he would be elected as speaker of the Niue Assembly in a 12–8 vote over Togia Sioneholo.

References

  1. 1 2 Rivers, Renate (14 May 2026). "Tagelagi secures third term as Niue PM after tight Assembly vote". Pacific Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 May 2026. Retrieved 14 May 2026. Earlier, MPs elected Billy Talagi as Speaker of the Assembly in a 12–8 vote over Togia Sioneholo. Talagi lost his electorate seat in the 2 May general election but returns to a senior parliamentary role.
  2. 1 2 Persico, Christina (14 May 2026). "Close vote sees Niue's Dalton Tagelagi back in as prime minister". RNZ. Archived from the original on 14 May 2026. Retrieved 14 May 2026. The 19th Niue Assembly was officially sworn in on Wednesday local time. Billy Talagi was sworn in as the new Speaker of Parliament.
  3. 1 2 "Growing concern in Niue over premier's absence - opposition MP". RNZ. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Stephen Levine (Spring 1998). "Niue in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997" (PDF). The Contemporary Pacific. 10 (1): 216–22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "NIUE PREMIER FRANK LUI LOSES ASSEMBLY SEAT". Pacific Islands Report. 22 March 1999. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  6. ↑ Stephen Levine (Spring 2000). "Political Review: Niue" (PDF). The Contemporary Pacific. 12 (1): 231–236. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  7. ↑ "GOVERNMENT OF NIUE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER" (PDF). Gov.nu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  8. ↑ Lealaiauloto Aigaletaulealea Tauafiafi (30 April 2014). "Premier Toke Talagi announces Niue Govt and cabinet portfolios". Pacific Guardians. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  9. ↑ "Cabinet Ministers and Portfolios". Government of Niue. Archived from the original on 7 March 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "Niue's Premier returns to island but not to office". RNZ. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "Niue minister admits guilt on assault, discharged". RNZ. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "Niue: MPs set to elect new Premier to replace Sir Toke Talagi". PMN News. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "Son of former Niue Premier among six newcomers to Parliament". RNZ. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.