Sam Pata Emani Tagelagi (29 December 1935[1] – 10 September 2011) was a Niuean politician and elder. Tagelagi served as the first Speaker of the Niue Assembly from 1976 to 1993.[2]
From 1958 until 1963, Tagelagi worked as an employee of the New Zealand Internal Affairs and Island Territories Department.[2] He later served as the head of inland revenue, Niuean customs comptroller, and treasurer.[2] Aside from his long tenure as Niue's first Speaker, Tagelagi was also a member of many Niuean government committees.[2] He served actively on the Alofi village council until his death in 2011.[2]
Within business, he served as the Niue Development Bank's general manager and owned an accounting firm.[2]
Sam Pata Emani Tagelagi died from a long illness at his home in Alofi, Niue, on 10 September 2011, at the age of 76.[2] He was survived by his wife Etena Elovi (née Hekau) Tagelagi, his daughter and four sons.[2] In 2020 his son Dalton Tagelagi was elected Premier of Niue.[3]