A veteran member of the Samoa Parliament and stalwart of the Human rights Protection Party (HRPP), Tapunu’u Niko Lee Hang, passed away at the national hospital in Motootua yesterday. He was 68.
Tapunu’u first entered Parliament in 2001 as the second MP for individual voters, and later became the elected to represent for Vaimauga #3 until his passing.
He is remembered as an anti-corruption advocate who chaired a Parliamentary Committee in 2006 until 2011, which highlighted corrupt practices in government leading to the resignation of a former Minister of Finance.
Tapunu’u served as a Cabinet Minister twice, starting in 2001 as Minister of Finance and then as Minister of Works in 2016 until 2021.
In the current Parliament, he was deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Finance Committee.
His passing means HRPP has lost four caucus members in the space of less than two months.
Prior to entering Parliament, Tapunu’u worked in the public service for more than 30 years, becoming the Public Trustee. He also owned successful businesses, including Myna’s Store in Vaoala.
He is survived by his wife Doris Young Lee Hang and four children.
