Teuea Toatu

Teuea Toatu is an I-Kiribati politician who has been the 7th Vice President of Kiribati since 2019, and a member of the House of Assembly and Minister for Finance and Economic Development since 2016. Prior to his tenure in the assembly he worked in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and in other economic positions in Kiribati.

Early life and education Teuea Toatu graduated from the University of the South Pacific with a bachelor of arts degree in accounting and economics in 1980, the University of East Anglia with a certificate in computing in 1984, and the University of Strathclyde with a master of science degree in finance in 1987.

Public service career Toatu first worked for the government of Kiribati as a principal auditor. From 1988 to 1991, Toatu was Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. He was chair of the board of directors of the Kiribati National Provident Fund and deputy chair of the board of directors of the Development Bank of Kiribati. In 1991, he became a programme coordinator for the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission.

Political career In the 2016 election Toatu won a seat in the House of Assembly representing Abaiang. President Taneti Maamau appointed Toatu as Minister of Finance and Economic Development in 2016.

Vice President Kourabi Nenem was dismissed from office by Maamau for violating the government's travel policy by taking an unsanctioned trip to Indonesia. Toatu was appointed to replace Nenem as Vice-President of Kiribati on 19 June 2019, and retained his position as Minister of Finance and Economic Development.

In mid-January 2026, Toatu and New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters signed a statement in Tarawa renewing New Zealand's aid assistance to Kiribati in the areas of health, labour mobility and security.