Lapati Paka was a

Niue Niue is a self-governing island country in free association with New Zealand. It is situated in the South Pacific Ocean and is part of Polynesia, and predominantly inhabited by Polynesians. One of the world's largest coral islands, Niue is c ...

an politician. She was jointly one of the first women elected to the

Niue Assembly The Niue Assembly or Niue Parliament () is the legislature of Niue. It consists of 20 members; 14 representatives of the villages and 6 elected on a common island-wide roll. Members are directly elected by universal suffrage, and serve a three- ...

Biography

Originally from

Mutalau Mutalau is one of the fourteen villages of Niue, and includes the northernmost point of the island. Its population at the 2022 census was 77, down from 98 in 2017. History Overview It was previously known as Ululauta and Matahefonua. ''Ululauta' ...

, Paka was the daughter of Togakilo, a member of the Legislative Assembly, and began her career as a nurse. After taking a home economics course in

Suva Suva (, ) is the Capital city, capital and the most populous city of Fiji. It is the home of the country's largest metropolitan area and serves as its major port. The city is located on the southeast coast of the island of Viti Levu, in Rew ...

, she joined the civil service as a Women's Interest Officer in 1965. She also became secretary of the Women's Club. 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.No Rex dynasty for Niue
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', June 1975, p9 She later became president of the Niue Council of Women.Niue Council of Women Celebrate their Arts and Crafts in technicolour
Tau Tala Niue, 20 August 2010

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paka, Lapati Niuean civil servants 20th-century women civil servants Niuean women in politics Members of the Niue Assembly 20th-century New Zealand women politicians 20th-century New Zealand politicians Year of birth missing (living people) Living people