Petunia Tupou

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Petunia Tupou is a judge of the Supreme Court of Tonga.

Tupou was educated at the University of Waikato in New Zealand, graduating in 1996 with a BA and LLB. [1] She was admitted to the bar in New Zealand in 1996, and in Tonga in 1997. [1] In September 2015 she was appointed honorary consul for the Netherlands. [2] In April 2021 she was appointed to the board of the Tonga Tourism Authority. [3]

In September 2020 she was made a King's Counsel. [4] In July 2022 she was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Tonga, replacing Laki Niu. [5] She was the second woman appointed as a judge, after 'Elisapeti Langi. [6] She was sworn in on 1 August 2022. [5]

In September 2023 she was appointed acting Chief Justice, following the retirement of Michael Whitten. [7] She served in that role until the appointment of Malcolm Bishop in August 2024. [8]

Honours

National honours

References

  1. 1 2 "Petunia Tupou". Martindale. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "Mrs Tupou is Netherlands' consul". Nuku'alofa Times. 2 October 2015. p. 4. Retrieved 28 July 2022– via Issu.
  3. ↑ "Tonga's Ministry of Tourism appoints new board members". Loop Tonga. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "Tonga's women lawyers appointed King's Counsel". Loop Tonga. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Petunia Tupou appointed new Supreme Court judge". Matangi Tonga. 27 July 2022. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  6. ↑ "New female judge appointed as King's chancellor expected to shed light on Justice Niu's contract queries". Kaniva Tonga. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  7. ↑ "Judicial panel calls for Tongan to replace Lord Chief Justice". Matangai Tonga. 22 September 2023. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  8. ↑ "Malcolm Bishop KC appointed as Lord Chief Justice and President of the Land Court of Tonga". Talanoa O Tonga. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  9. ↑ "King's Birthday awards". Matangi Tonga. 7 July 2021. Archived from the original on 8 July 2021.


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