Lapati Paka was a Niuean politician. She was jointly one of the first women elected to the Niue Assembly.

Lapati Paka
Member of the Niue Assembly
In office
1975–
ConstituencyIsland-wide

Biography edit

Originally from Mutalau, Paka was the daughter of Togakilo, a member of the Legislative Assembly, and began her career as a nurse.[1] After taking a home economics course in Suva, she joined the civil service as a Women's Interest Officer in 1965.[2] She also became secretary of the Women's Club.[3]

She contested the island-wide constituency in the April 1975 elections and was elected to the Niue Assembly, becoming one of the first women elected to the legislature alongside Patricia Rex. Her father was also re-elected in the same election.[1]

She later became president of the Niue Council of Women.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b No Rex dynasty for Niue Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1975, p9
  2. ^ People Pacific Islands Monthly, December 1965, p141
  3. ^ New Zealand Foreign Affairs Review, volume 25, p44
  4. ^ Niue Council of Women Celebrate their Arts and Crafts in technicolour Tau Tala Niue, 20 August 2010