Lapati Paka

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

Biography

Originally from Mutalau, 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, 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 1975 [Niuean general election|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.
She later became president of the Niue Council of Women.