Falani Aukuso

Who was Falani Aukuso?

Falani Aukuso was the deputy director general of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

Aukuso was a native of Tokelau. He served as the former Tokelauan director of education. He later worked as a diplomatic officer with the New Zealand Ministry of External Relations and Trade from 1990 to 1994. He returned to Tokelau where he became the head of the Office of the Council of Faipule, which is the island country's Cabinet. Aukuso was later promoted to the leader of the National Office of the Government of Tokelau in 2004.

Aukuso next became the deputy director general of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, a position he held until his death. He reportedly fell suddenly ill in Suva, Fiji, where he worked, and died on 31 July 2008.

His death was announced at the closing ceremonies of the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts at Veterans Stadium in Tafuna, American Samoa. Aukuso had been scheduled to address the closing ceremonies before his death. Condolences were sent to the Tokelau delegation of the Festival of Pacific Arts.