Togia-Pulu-toaki

Who is Togia-Pulu-toaki?

Togia-Pulu-toaki was the eighth and possibly final patu-iki of the Pacific Ocean island of Niue, taking power in 1896 following the death of the previous incumbent, Fata-a-iki, and formally ordained on June 30, 1898.

Under Togia-Pulu-toaki's reign, laws were adopted forbidding the sale of Niuean lands to foreigners, and the sale of liquor to Niueans. His reign saw the formal relinquishing of Niuen independence to the British Empire on April 21, 1900 after several failed attempts by his predecessor to make Niue a protectorate of the British Empire, and, on September 11, 1900, Togia-Pulu-toaki formally welcomed a resident representative of the imperial government to the island.

Togia-Pulu-toaki remained alive in Niue in 1903, when Stephenson Percy Smith published his study on the island, Niuē-fekai Island and its People. It remains uncertain if the title of patu-iki was succeeded after his death, or if it was allowed to lapse.